Introduction to Media and Information Literacy

• Literacy: The ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate and compute, using printed and written
materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning, wherein individuals are able to
achieve their goals, develop their knowledge and potential, and participate fully in their community and wider
society.

• Media: The physical objects used to communicate with, or the mass communication through physical objects such
as radio, television, computers, film, etc. It also refers to any physical object used to communicate messages. • Media
Literacy: The ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media in a variety of forms. It aims to empower citizens
by providing them with the competencies (knowledge and skills) necessary to engage with traditional media and new
technologies.

• Information: A broad term that covers processed data, knowledge derived from study, experience, instruction,
signals or symbols.

• Information Literacy: The ability to recognize when information is needed, and to locate, evaluate, and effectively
communicate information in its various formats.

•Information Literacy - includes the competencies to be effective in all stages of the lifecycle of documents of all
kinds, the capacity to understand the ethical implications of these documents, and the ability to behave in an ethical
way throughout these stages.

• Technology Literacy: The ability of an individual, either working independently or with others, to responsibly,
appropriately, and effectively use technological tools. Using these tools an individual can access, manage, integrate,
evaluate, create and communicate information.

• Media and Information Literacy: The essential skills and competencies that allow individuals to engage with media
and other information providers effectively, as well as develop critical thinking and life-long learning skills to socialize
and become active citizens.

Other Definitions Media - physical objects used to communicate including mass media (radio, television, computers,
film, etc.). Traditionally, media are source of credible information in which contents are provided through an editorial
process determined by journalistic values and where editorial accountability can be attributed to an organization or a
legal person. In more recent years the term ‘media’ is often used to include new online media.

Evolution of Media
Pre-Industrial Age (Before 1700s) - People discovered fire, developed paper from plants, and forged weapons and
tools with stone, bronze, copper and iron.
Examples:
• Cave paintings (35,000 BC) • Dibao in China (2nd Century)
• Clay tablets in Mesopotamia (2400 BC) • Codex in the Mayan region (5th Century)
• Papyrus in Egypt (2500 BC) • Printing press using wood blocks (220 AD)
• Acta Diurna in Rome (130 BC)

Industrial Age (1700s-1930s) - People used the power of steam, developed machine tools, established iron
production, and the manufacturing of various products (including books through the printing press).
Examples:
• Printing press for mass production (19th century) • Motion picture with sound (1926)
• Newspaper- The London Gazette (1640) • Telegraph
• Typewriter (1800)Telephone (1876) • Punch cards
• Motion picture photography/projection (1890)
• Commercial motion pictures (1913)
Electronic Age (1930s-1980s) - The invention of the transistor ushered in the electronic age. People harnessed the
power of transistors that led to the transistor radio, electronic circuits, and the early computers. In this age, long
distance communication became more efficient.
Examples:
• Transistor Radio • Mainframe computers - i.e. IBM 704 (1960) • OHP, LCD projectors
• Television (1941) • Personal computers - i.e. Hewlett-Packard 9100A (1968), Apple 1 (1976)
• Large electronic computers- i.e.
EDSAC (1949) and UNIVAC 1 (1951)

Information Age (1900s-2000s) - The Internet paved the way for faster communication and the creation of the social
network. People advanced the use of microelectronics with the invention of personal computers, mobile devices, and
wearable technology. Moreover, voice, image, sound and data are digitalized. We are now living in the information
age.
Examples:
• Web browsers: Mosaic (1993), Internet Explorer (1995)
• Blogs: Blogspot (1999), LiveJournal (1999), Wordpress (2003)
• Social networks: Friendster (2002), Multiply (2003), Facebook (2004)
• Microblogs: Twitter (2006), Tumblr (2007)
• Video: YouTube (2005)
• Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality
• Video chat: Skype (2003), Google Hangouts (2013)
• Search Engines: Google (1996), Yahoo (1995)
• Portable computers- laptops (1980), netbooks (2008), tablets (1993)
• Smart phones
• Wearable technology
• Cloud and Big Data

Ethical Use of Information

“There are times when you need to share information that you have acquired from various sources written by
different authors. It is inevitable to directly quote their words in order to preserve their meaning. However, quoting
someone else's words without giving credit to the author essentially gives an impression that you are claiming
ownership of the words they have said. This is called plagiarism.”

• Plagiarism: Using other people’s words and ideas without clearly acknowledging the source of the information
• Common Knowledge: Facts that can be found in numerous places and are likely to be widely known
Example: John F. Kennedy was elected President of the United States in 1960. This is generally known information.
You do not need to document this fact
• Interpretation: You must document facts that are not generally known, or ideas that interpret facts. Example:
Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player ever to have played the game. This idea is not a fact but an
interpretation or an opinion. You need to cite the source.
• Quotation: Using someone’s words directly. When you use a direct quote, place the passage between quotation
marks, and document the source according to a standard documenting style. Example: According to John Smith in
The New York Times, “37% of all children under the age of 10 live below the poverty line”. You need to cite the
source.
• Paraphrase: Using someone’s ideas, but rephrasing them in your own words. Although you will use your own words
to paraphrase, you must still acknowledge and cite the source of the information.

a. Plagiarism has legal implications. While ideas themselves are not copyrightable, the artistic expression of an idea
automatically falls under copyright when it is created. Under fair use, small parts may be copied without permission
from the copyright holder. However, even under fair use - in which you can use some parts of the material for

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academic or non-profit purposes - you must attribute the original source. What is considered fair use is rather
subjective and can vary from country to country.

b. Strategies in Avoiding Plagiarism

• Submit your own work for publication. You need to cite even your own work.
• Put quotation marks around everything that comes directly from the text and cite the source.
• Paraphrase, but be sure that you are not simply rearranging or replacing a few words and cite the source.
• Keep a source journal, a notepad, or note cards- annotated bibliographies can be especially beneficial
• Use the style manual in properly citing sources
• Get help from the writing center or library

Types of Media: Print, Broadcast, New Media

• Print Media - media consisting of paper and ink, reproduced in a printing process that is traditionally mechanical
• Broadcast Media - media such as radio and television that reach target audiences using airwaves as the
transmission medium.
• New Media - content organized and distributed on digital platform
• Media Convergence- Media convergence refers to the merging and blending of different types of media, both
traditional and new, into a unified platform that allows content to flow seamlessly across various channels and
devices.

Key Aspects of Media Convergence:

1. Co-existence of Traditional and New Media:

Traditional media (e.g., print newspapers, radio, television) now exists alongside new digital platforms (e.g., websites,
social media, streaming services), enabling a broader, interconnected media ecosystem.

2. Flow of Media Across Platforms:

Content created for one platform can now be distributed across others. For example, a news story may originate in a
newspaper but be shared through social media, discussed on podcasts, or reported on television. This allows
audiences to consume media on multiple devices and in different formats.

3. Blending of Media Forms:

Media convergence often results in the hybridization of traditional media forms. For instance, news podcasts by
newspaper writers combine elements of print journalism (depth of analysis) with the audio format traditionally
associated with radio, providing an innovative way to deliver news.

4. Digital Transformation:

Convergence is driven by the ability to convert various types of media into digital formats. This means text, audio,
video, and images can be transformed into digital code and accessed through diverse devices, from computers to
smartphones, contributing to the rise of a digital communication environment.

Digital transformation means turning things like text, audio, video, and images into digital formats (like files on a
computer). Once they are digital, these files can be used on many different devices, such as computers, smartphones,
or tablets.

For example, a printed newspaper can be turned into a digital version that you can read on your phone, or a song can
be turned into a music file that you can listen to on a streaming app. This makes it easier for people to access and
share media, no matter what device they're using.

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Media and Information Sources

• Reliability of information - Information is said to be reliable if it can be verified and evaluated. Others refer to the
trustworthiness of the source in evaluating the reliability of information.
• Accuracy of information - Accuracy refers to the closeness of the report to the actual data. Measurement of
accuracy varies, depending on the type of information being evaluated. Forecasts are said to be accurate if the report
is similar to the actual data. Financial information is considered accurate if the values are correct, properly classified,
and presented
• Value of information - Information is said to be of value if it aids the user in making or improving decisions.
• Authority of the source - Much of the information we gather daily do not come from a primary source but are
passed on through secondary sources such as writers, reporters, and the like. Sources with an established expertise
on the subject matter are considered as having sound authority on the subject.
• Timeliness - Reliability, accuracy, and value of information may vary based on the time it was produced or acquired.
While a piece of information may have been found accurate, reliable, and valuable during the time it was produced,
it may become irrelevant and inaccurate with the passing of time (thus making it less valuable). Other information
may be timeless, proven to be the same in reliability, accuracy, and value throughout history.

Libraries

a. Types of Libraries:

There are four main types of libraries:

1. Academic libraries: Found in colleges and universities, they support students and researchers.

2. Public libraries: Open to everyone in a community.

3. School libraries: Located in schools to help students with learning.

4. Special libraries: Focus on specific topics, like law or medicine.

These libraries can be physical (with books on shelves) or digital (with online materials).

b. Skills in Accessing Information from Libraries:

To find information in a library, you need to:

• Know which tool to use (like a catalog or database).

• Understand how information is organized (e.g., by topic, author, or type).

• Be aware that some libraries may only show a summary of a topic, and you may need to sign up or follow
rules to access more detailed content.

c. Characteristics of Libraries (Reliability, Accuracy, and Value):

Libraries are usually very reliable and accurate because the books and materials they contain are reviewed by
experts. Two key identifiers are:

• ISSN (International Standard Serial Number): Used for serial publications, like magazines and journals, to
ensure they follow certain standards.

• ISBN (International Standard Book Number): Used for books, giving each one a unique identifier to ensure it
meets publishing standards.

Having an ISSN or ISBN means the material followed specific guidelines when published, making it more trustworthy
and valuable.

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Internet

a. Information Found on the Internet:

The Internet has a huge amount of information on any topic you can think of. You can find articles, videos, websites,
social media posts, and more.

b. Characteristics of Internet Information (Reliability, Accuracy, Value, Timeliness, Authority):

• Reliability: Not all information online is trustworthy. Some websites are reliable, but others are not.

• Accuracy: Information might be true or false. You need to verify facts.

• Value: Some online content is very helpful, while other content may not be useful.

• Timeliness: The Internet gives you up-to-date information, but some sources may be outdated.

• Authority: The source matters—information from experts or trusted organizations is more reliable than from
unknown sources.

c. Realities of the Internet:

The Internet gives you easy access to information, but not everything is true or reliable. Factual and fake data can be
mixed together, so you need to be careful and check the source.

d. Challenges of Using Internet Information:

Since information online is varied in form and content, it’s harder to tell if it’s accurate or reliable. Even though it’s
easy to access, it requires more effort to verify facts. You should always check if the source is trustworthy.

Skills in Determining The Reliability Of Information:

a. Check the author. The author’s willingness to be identified is a good indication of reliability.
b. Check the date of publication or of update. While the information may be true, it may not be reliable if it is
outdated and may have lost relevance.
c. Check for citations. Reliable authors have the discipline of citing sources of their information.
d. Check the domain or owner of the site or page. The domains .edu and .gov are reserved for academic institutions
and the government respectively. Information from such sites are presented with caution and are usually well-
grounded. Site owners may have an agenda that affects the manner by which information is presented.

e. Check the site design and the writing style. Credible sources take time to make their information accessible and
easy to comprehend.

Skills in Determining Accurate Information:

a. Look for Facts:

Make sure the information is based on facts rather than opinions or guesses.

b. Cross-Reference with Other Sources:

Check the same information on different websites or sources to see if they all say the same thing. This helps confirm
if it's true.

c. Understand the Purpose:

Think about why the information was written. Is the author being fair and neutral, or are they trying to convince you
of something specific? This helps you spot bias.

d. Watch for Advertising:

Be careful if the page has ads or is promoting products. Sometimes, information is shared to sell something, not to
inform you accurately.

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Topics On The Alternative Media:

a. Current Popular Alternative Media:

Alternative media includes social media platforms, blogs, and other non-traditional sources like podcasts and
independent news websites. These are widely used today for sharing information quickly.

b. Rise of Alternative Media and Information:

Alternative media has become popular because it allows ordinary people to create and share information easily. It
gives people more freedom to express themselves outside of mainstream media.

c. Other Alternative Forms of Communication and Distribution:

Besides social media and blogs, alternative ways of communicating include things like flash mobs (public
performances that send a message). These forms give individuals more power to share information fast.
However, the downside is that much of the information may be biased or inaccurate, so it's important to check
sources carefully.

Media and Information Languages

Language in Media:

• Definition: This is about how words and text are used in different types of media to share information and
ideas.

• Focus: It’s all about the actual words and text. For example, how a news article explains a story or how
characters speak in a movie.

• Example: In a news article, using technical terms or specific phrases to describe an event. In a film, the way
characters talk to show their personalities or advance the plot.

Media Languages:

• Definition: This refers to the different techniques and symbols used in media to help communicate
messages. It includes things like visuals, sounds, and how media is structured.

• Focus: It’s about the methods and patterns used to convey meaning, not just the words. This can include
colors, camera angles, and editing styles.

• Example: In a horror film, the use of dark lighting and eerie music to create a scary atmosphere. Or in a
commercial, the use of bright colors and upbeat music to make a product seem fun and exciting.

Key Difference:

• Language in Media is about the content and use of language itself.

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 • Media Languages is about the techniques and visual/audio cues used to create meaning.

• Language in Media focuses on how words and text are used.

• Media Languages looks at the overall methods and techniques (like colors and sounds) used in media to send
messages.

Fonts can affect the mood and meaning of text!

I Love You.
Example of Fonts Conveying Emotion:

Cursive Font: When you write "I love you" in a cursive font, it often looks elegant and flowing, which can make the
message feel romantic and loving. The cursive style adds a personal and heartfelt touch.

I Love You.
Chiller Font: If you write "I love you" in a Chiller font (which has a spooky, jagged appearance), it changes the
message to feel more unsettling or tense. This font is typically associated with horror themes and can make the text
seem eerie or even suggest that something dangerous is happening.

• Technical codes include sound, camera angles, types of shots and lighting. They may include, for example, ominous
music to communicate danger in a feature film, or high-angle camera shots to create a feeling of power in a
photograph.

• Symbolic codes include the language, dress or actions of characters, or iconic symbols that are easily understood.
For example, a red rose may be used symbolically to convey romance, or a clenched fist may be used to communicate
anger
• Convention - In the media context, refers to a standard or norm that acts as a rule governing behaviour.
• Messages - the information sent from a source to a receiver.
• Audience - the group of consumers for whom a media message was constructed as well as anyone else who is
exposed to the message.
• Producers - People engaged in the process of creating and putting together media content to make a finished
media product.
• Other stakeholders - Libraries, archives, museums, internet and other relevant information providers.

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