Note: All URLS mentioned were current at the time of original publication.

INDEX TO THIS EDITION:

• CENTERpieces: news from & about the CML
• RESOURCES: this month we focus on News and Newspaper teaching resources
• TV TO TAPE: check out new shows on Superbowl Ads and African-Americans In TV
• CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: new oral history project for students
• DOWNLOAD THIS!: links to media literacy research and Internet usage
• MEDIA LITERACY AROUND THE WORLD: media ratings guides and the "standing" of news anchors
• CML's NEW ADDRESS

1. NEW CML CATALOGS IN THE MAIL

It's a new era for the Center for Media Literacy as strategic collaborations with Great Plains National and Teachers Discovery have allowed us to send not thousands but hundreds of thousands of new catalogs to schools and teachers across the U.S.! The importance of this growth lies in getting the word out about media literacy to a much wider, more diverse clientele of teachers, parents and care providers. If you did not receive a 2002 catalog in January, then you may not be on our snail mail list. To get on this list and receive a print catalog, log on to: http://www.medialit.org/Catalog/catalogform.htm

The Center is also pleased to announce an updated look for our Web homepage (which actually matches the 2002 catalog design). But don't get too attached to these changes as additional modifications are in progress! We'll be sure to let you know when the completely new site goes live later this year. Until then, check out our new facelift at: http://www.medialit.org.

2. CML PRESIDENT APPEARS ON KTLA'S PACESETTERS

The relationship of media literacy to advertising, and the role of media education in schools were the focus of Pacesetters, a public affairs program produced and hosted by Ray Gonzales of KTLA-5, a Tribune Broadcasting station in Los Angeles. CML's president and CEO, Tessa Jolls, appeared during the Jan. 20th episode on a panel with two others: Jeff Share, a teacher with Los Angeles Unified School District and trainer for CML's role in a federal grant addressing media literacy and the arts; and Paul Horowitz, a Los Angeles-based pediatrician who chairs the American Academy of Pediatrics Media Resource Team. Our thanks to Ray for this public education on media literacy!

MIND OVER MEDIA VIDEO

In "Mind Over Media," there is at last one video resource which introduces the key concepts of media literacy to educators, administrators and parents! Featuring top teachers and leaders in the field, viewers witness how media literacy is successfully integrated into classrooms at every grade-level and across the curriculum.

This well-crafted, 60-minute program was produced by and aired nationally last spring on Court TV, in collaboration with the National Education Association and Cable in the Classroom.

Click for more information.

A FOCUS ON NEWS AND NEWSPAPERS

When it comes to news stories, we all want to keep up with the latest happenings -- whether through print, radio, the Internet or TV. So, to aid in our (and our students' and children's) evaluation of news coverage and how and why certain stories are chosen, CML has found some great new books, videos and teaching units.

• "News Media Under Fire" is an engaging video using interviews with students, case studies of recent events (such as the O.J. Simpson trial),and an accompanying leader's guide to help students evaluate news media with a critical eye.
• "The Complete Newspaper Resource Book" not only familiarizes students with newspaper sections and teaches about journalism techniques -- but also reinforces basic skills and provides (news-related) lessons in English, the arts, science and math.
• "Newspapers in Education - Teacher's Guide" stands out as an introductory workbook and guide for how to creatively use local newspapers (which are often available free to schools) as a teaching tool within the classroom!
• "The Making of Citizens" is David Buckingham's revealing look at young people's interpretations of news -- and their judgments on how social and political issues are represented. Fascinating!
• "The Media and Morality" incorporates provocative news case studies such as the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal as top journalists and media critics explore ethical and moral issues in journalism today.
• "Modern Marvels: A Video History of Newspapers" examines the earliest news publications and traces their history throughout time (including such legends as Zenger, Hearst and Pulitzer). Perfect for journalism and media studies classes!
• "Age of Propaganda" is a thought-provoking look at the tactics used by politicians, salespersons, advertisers and televangelists -- showing how and why persuasion influences our behavior.
• "Everything You Need to Know About Teaching Editorial Cartoons!" provides a creative approach to using newspapers in the classroom. Print and video resources are included to support the integration of editorial cartoons into language arts, social studies and current events.

SUPERBOWL ADS GET THEIR OWN SPECIAL ON PBS

"Super Commercials: A Mental Engineering Special" will debut on many (but not all) PBS stations on Sunday, February 3rd at 10:30 p.m. E.S.T. (Check your local listings.)

Airing approximately 45 minutes after the big game, this program is described as the first post-game show for Superbowl commercials.

"Mental Engineering" is a weekly roundtable discussion about TV commercials and the commercial culture. Each half hour episode typically screens four or five prominent, national television ads -- which are then "dissected" by host, John Forde, along with several guest panelists. Check out the series website at: http://www.mentalengineering.com.

TV LAND TO AIR 3-PART SERIES ON AFRICAN AMERICANS IN TV

Premiering this month on TV Land is Inside TV Land: African Americans in Television. This three-part special airing each Friday night in February (starting on the 1st from 9:00 - 10:00 p.m. ET/PT) explores the impact of African Americans, both in front of and behind the camera, in three television genres: variety, drama and comedy.

With interviewees including Quincy Jones, Eddie Murphy, Nat King Cole, Dr. Maya Angelou, Alex Haley, and Bill Cosby -- both new and archival material is used to provide first-person accounts of the African American experience on TV. The series timeframe spans the controversial early days in television -- through present-day. Read more about it at: http://www.tvland.com/insidetvl/aa/nonflash.jhtml

ORAL HISTORY PROJECT FOR STUDENTS

A wonderful new media literacy and social studies activity has come to our attention in the form of students documenting older family and friends' experiences in U.S. wars. The American Association of Retired Persons is working with the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress to create a national archive of veteran's oral histories to preserve for future generations.

While the overall goal is to establish a comprehensive collection at historical and veterans organizations across the country - this is also a great opportunity for students to cultivate interviewing, writing, production and organizational skills through audio- and videotaping oral histories and researching documents such as letters, diaries, maps and photographs. Beyond learning about family history, select students may even have their work become part of the Library of Congress.

For a project kit, applications and additional details, write to: the Veterans History Project, Library of Congress/American Folklife Center, 101 Independence Ave. SE, Washington DC 20540-4615. Or call toll-free and leave a message at: 888-371-5848. Information may also be obtained at: http://www.loc.gov/folklife/vets

REPORT ON RESEARCH IN MEDIA EDUCATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH

A two-day, invitation-only working conference was held in April, 2000 at Rutgers University with leading media education and public health researchers charged with the task of charting future directions for research in media education. The goal of the conference was to identify approaches that should be undertaken to measure the impact of media literacy interventions aimed at health threats to youth, stimulate descriptive evidence about the growth and nature of media literacy education in the U.S. and around the world, and to begin to more fully appreciate the connections between the fields of media studies, education and public health that research about the practice of media literacy demands and inspires. A downloadable report on the event is now available at: http://www.mediastudies.rutgers.edu/mh_conference/index.html

NEW CME STUDY LOOKS AT TEEN INTERNET USAGE

A timely new report from the Center for Media Education looks at the burgeoning new media culture directed at -- and in some cases created by teens. Teensites.com-A Field Guide to the New Digital Landscape examines the interactive nature of the new media, and explores the ways in which teens are both shaping and being shaped by the electronic culture that surrounds them. To download this report, go to: http://www.cme.org

And for another fantastic (and inexpensive) resource which provides teachers with media literacy activities to help students use the Internet wisely, don't forget "The Web-Savvy Student."

NEW SITE LAUNCHED TO ENHANCE STUDENTS' WEB KNOWLEDGE

One additional (and free) instructional resource on web usage has been created by Canada's Media Awareness Network and is titled "Jo Cool or Jo Fool." This is a fun-to-use, on-line module in which students accompany Jo through twelve mock web scenarios in order to determine whether he's making wise decisions as he surfs the Internet.

The module also includes a twenty-nine question, on-line quiz to support learning -- as well as an extensive Teacher's Guide containing background information, questions and classroom activities for students about issues such as marketing, privacy, safety, responsible Internet use and authenticating information. Find this engaging site (for 6 - 8th graders, on up) at: http://www.media-awareness.ca/eng/webbaware/2joes/johome.htm

NEW RATINGS GUIDES FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS

CML Founder and Chair, Elizabeth Thoman, has long predicted that media "safeguards" such as the V-Chip would go virtually ignored by parents and caregivers unless training and support was provided by the thousands of parent groups, community organizations and churches located all across the country. Lacking this education - or even information articles in newspapers or magazines, parents would never learn about rating systems or how to use them in their homes.

Five years after V-chip technology was approved by Congress, The Kaiser Family Foundation has, in fact, discovered that parents aren't actively using V-chips. Their study, "Parents and the V-Chip 2001" is available by calling the Publication Request Line at: 1-800-656-4533 - or through their website at: http://www.kff.org

However, the good news is that this situation is by no means irreversible and the Center for Media Education (CME) has put out a wonderful resource titled "Parental Guidance Suggested: A Workshop Leader's Guide for the TV Ratings and V-Chip" which we highly recommend. It is designed for use at meetings and programs at the local level -- schools, community groups, churches -- to continue to raise public awareness about the television ratings system, the V-chip and how to use these new tools to their fullest advantage. Find a downloadable version of this guide on CME's website at: http://www.cme.org

We also applaud the Recording Industry Association of America for launching a new campaign to improve awareness about its Parental Advisory Program. Designed for parents, educators, and music consumers, it features a web site providing a full page of web links not only to music rating systems - but guidelines for television, motion pictures and video games, as well. This site is located at: http://www.parentalguide.org

THE 'STANDING' OF TV NEWS ANCHORS

Have you noticed? Some TV anchors are no longer sitting behind the desk - but are standing and even walking around the studio set! A recent Los Angeles Times article offers implications that this may be a means of "energizing" productions, breaking down barriers between the audience and anchor -- or simply that one or two newscasters began the practice and others took notice and are following suit since it's an interesting (and eye-catching) way to deliver the news. Who knows? We'll just have to keep watch on the "standing" of this news phenomenon!

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