Media Literacy and Prevention: Going Beyond ‘Just Say No'

Center for Media Literacy: Empowerment Through Education


Topic / Subject Area:
	Health / Prevention
	Health Issues
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Media Literacy and Prevention: Going Beyond ‘Just Say No'

By Lynda Bergsma, PhD

Today most prevention practitioners and researchers, as well as concerned teachers and parents, recognize that many of the messages we get from the media are risk factors for numerous public health problems. From the time we wake up to the radio alarm clock to the time we fall asleep with the TV on, we live in a media culture. We cannot escape the media's influence on either our healthy or unhealthy behaviors.

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Author:
Lynda Bergsma is assistant professor in the College of Public Health at the University of Arizona, associate director of the Rural Health Office, and director of the Media Wise Initiative, which she established in 1992.

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