How did the Center start?
The Center for Media Literacy, incorporated in 1989 as the Center for Media and Values, is an outgrowth of Media&Values magazine which was founded by Elizabeth Thoman in 1977. In 1993, the name was changed to the Center for Media Literacy. Tessa Jolls became President in 1999 and she continues in that role. Check out the history of the magazine as well as the history of CML at the following sections of this website:
History and Milestones
Media&Values magazine / Founding Inspiration
Does CML still publish Media&Values magazine?
No, the last issue of the magazine was published in November, 1993. However the vision of Media&Values, which helped to ignite the fire of media literacy in the USA, continues to influence the Center's activities and an extensive archive of this acclaimed magazine is the cornerstone of this website.
For students of media literacy, the Media&Values archive serves as a primary source for understanding the role and impact of media and popular culture on society, on young people in school and on each of us as individuals and citizens of a democracy.
Where does CML get its funding?
The Center for Media Literacy is an independent organization that is self-sustaining. M21, a project of Community Partners, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization which accepts tax-deductible donations.
Is CML a religious or political organization?
No, CML is an independent non-partisan organization. Our services are available to all schools and organizations, whether public, private or parochial.
From 1983 1989, Media&Values magazine was owned by the Media Action Research Center, a non-profit coalition of primarily Protestant and Jewish national agencies that backed the magazine's raising of critical questions about contemporary media issues. It is a testament to the support of numerous religious foundations and agencies of all denominations that Media&Values was able to take root and grow during its early history and that the Center has been able to apply for and receive financial support at critical times for the development of innovative projects such as Beyond Blame: Challenging Violence in the Media, for publishing projects on sexism and racial/ethnic issues in media as well as for this website.
Does CML sponsor a national conference?
National conferences require a huge commitment of an organization's staff time, energy and funding. CML cannot undertake such an effort every year alone so in 1997, CML was one of four founders of the Partnership for Media Education (PME), a coalition of organizations and individuals whose goal would be to organize and raise funds for a regular national conference.
Following successful events in Colorado Springs (1998), St. Paul (1999) and Toronto (2000), the PME evolved in 2001 into the Alliance for a Media Literate America (AMLA), a national professional membership organization established to advance the field of media literacy education in the United States, including the holding of a national conference every two years. CML invites all persons interested in media literacy to join the AMLA and attend the national conference.
|