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Credit: Getty Images
Education Dive
Report: Florida, Ohio called 'advanced leaders' in K-12 media literacy efforts
Advocacy group Media Literacy Now says 14 states have laws with “some
media-literacy language” and others will consider bills this year, but
some say progress "is too slow."
Linda Jacobson
Jan. 7, 2020
As the U.S. enters another presidential election year, 14 states have
“some media-literacy language on the books,” according to a new report
detailing legislative efforts to integrate media literacy instruction
into curriculum.
But “action is too slow compared to the urgent need,” wrote Erin
McNeill, president and board member of Media Literacy Now, a nonprofit
advocacy organization that defines media literacy as the “ability to
access, analyze, evaluate, create and take action with all forms of
communication.”
The report calls out Florida and Ohio as “advanced leaders” for
requiring media literacy to be incorporated into the curriculum from
K-12.
Media literacy, which includes news literacy, was first included in
Florida’s English language arts standards in 2008, and then in 2013,
stronger legislation passed requiring the topic to be integrated in all
subject areas. Ohio’s law also requires media literacy instruction to
be spread throughout the curriculum.
Texas is identified in the report as a “strong leader” for passing
legislation last year that includes media literacy as part of its
digital citizenship curriculum. While Media Literacy Now considers
digital citizenship as part of media literacy — not the other way
around — the authors still wrote the state’s policy shows “strong
promise.”
New Mexico, where media literacy can be offered as an elective, and
Washington, which is offering instructional resources and approved
funding for teacher training, are named “developing leaders” in the
report. Finally, nine states — California, Colorado, Connecticut,
Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Utah —
are identified as “emerging leaders” for “beginning the conversation”
and consulting with experts and others.
More states considering bills
Calls for increased attention to media literacy skills and demand from
educators for training in this area increased following an outbreak of
“fake news” reports associated with the 2016 presidential election.
Studies and assessments showing students are easily misled by digital
information have also contributed to a sense of urgency.
News and media literacy advocates, however, have noted because the
topic can fit into multiple content areas, it can also be overlooked
because of other pressures on teachers. Media literacy, the group
notes, also “encompasses the foundational skills of digital citizenship
and internet safety including the norms of appropriate, responsible,
ethical, and healthy behavior, and cyberbullying prevention.”
But Natasha Casey, an associate professor of communications at
Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois, said the definition
includes some “slippery terms,” which can also affect how instruction
is implemented.
“Who defines the norms, what is appropriate and responsible or ethical
and healthy?” she asked. “These are not universally agreed upon within
the field of media literacy, let alone beyond it.”
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