• Calendar
• Featured Teacher Resources
• Spotlight on CML
• Classroom Connections
• Download This
• Around the Media World
• Action Idea of the Month

November 7-9 (Madison, WI) The National Conference on Media Reform
The two-day National Conference on Media Reform is a groundbreaking forum to democratize the debate over media policymaking. Bringing together a broad range of media reform activists the conference aims to develop unified action plans for immediate and long-term reforms and generate policies and strategies that will structurally improve the media system. For information about this event and also to watch for its outcomes posted online, visit http://www.mediareform.net/conference.php. And be sure to watch the news that weekend and see how the mainstream media covers this revolutionary gathering!

November 12-16 (Chicago, IL) Media Literacy Sub-Theme at the 2003 National Council for the Social Studies Conference
This year's NCSS conference will feature a strong Media Literacy focus, thanks in large part to AMLA board members working with NCSS president Denee Mattioli, a strong supporter of media literacy. Mattioli observes that "we have a very sophisticated media but as a society, we are very unsophisticated consumers of that media. As citizens, we need skills to critically evaluate information presented to us." A special media literacy "strand" will feature workshops by noted media literacy leaders linking media literacy to social studies curriculum standards. If you're going to the NCSS convention, you might want to attend any or all of the following:


• Pre-Conference workshop all day Thursday with David Considine, Cyndy Scheibe, and Chris Sperry Window on the World? Integrating Media Literacy and Social Studies
• Friday, AMLA president Faith Rogow kicks off the workshops with Beyond Content: Video and Multicultural Education from 9:30 - 10:30 along with Nicki Soice, Absolute Power: The Man, the Media, The Messages – How Media Portrays the Presidency.
• Friday from 10:45 - 11:45, CML's Jeff Share presents, Visual Literacy and Why the Camera Always Lies. How photographers shape images and how images shape history
• Friday afternoon, Karen Zill chairs The News Media: A Citizen's Best Friend? 1:15pm - 2:15pm
• Saturday afternoon, Project Look Sharp's Chris Sperry presents, Media Coverage of War: Vietnam, the Gulf, Afghanistan, 3:45pm - 4:45pm

For more information visit the NCSS conference web site.

November 16 (San Francisco, CA) "Going Beyond Just Say No: A Media Literacy and Prevention Education Workshop"
Educators and Health/Prevention Specialists planning to attend the American Public Health Association Convention can explore media literacy as a potent public health and prevention education strategy in a day-long preconference session to be presented by Lynda Bergsma, PhD, and Jennifer Peashock, from the Office of Rural Health at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Participants will receive an extensive manual of resources, a copy of the Blowing Smoke curriculum as well as the CDC Media Sharp curriculum. Registration is limited so click here to find out how you can participate.

FEATURED TEACHER RESOURCES

14 New Titles Qualify for CML's Online Catalog
Follow the links to find out more about these terrific new titles — and many more:
• World War II On The Air: Edward R. Murrow and the Broadcasts that Riveted a Nation This powerful primary source for the social studies classroom includes 47 original WWII radio broadcasts from the great Edward R. Murrow and the "Murrow Boys" with commentary and narration by CBS' Dan Rather.
• Made You Look: How Advertising Works and Why You Should Know At last, a low-cost text on advertising for kids 8-12, this lively, colorful layout filled with engaging activities is great for home, library or as a classroom text.
• Picture Perfect A best seller at the National Media Education Conference, this video by Carol Tizzano presents interviews with a culturally diverse group of women and girls who reflect on their own body image and the impact of advertising on their perception of beauty and success.

Be sure to check out all 14 new products in the November/December NEW FOR YOU bulletin.

SPOTLIGHT ON CML

CML President Participates in Mexico's International Media Congress
"What Is It That Society Needs from Mass Media?" is the question addressed by the recent International Congress sponsored by A Favor de lo Mejor (The Best In Media Association) in Mexico City, Mexico October 5-7. International delegates representing countries throughout the Americas met to share information on programs Oct. 5, followed by a two-day Congress held in Mexico's National Auditorium and attracting 10,000 attendees per day.

"It became clear to me how international the concern about media's influence in our lives is," said President and CEO Tessa Jolls, who represented CML at the Congress. "Providing Media Literacy programs is a goal of many nations; we are not alone in working to find ways of transmitting critical thinking and media production skills to the next generations."

Mexico's commitment to establishing a relationship between media, education and society was evident. Vicente Fox, President of Mexico, made the closing address for the Congress and both the Secretary of Interior and the Secretary of State also made presentations. "Mexico is making a determined effort to develop a model for how to have a free yet responsible media presence. There is a recognition that in an information-based economy, citizens must have the skills to negotiate media effectively," reported Jolls. Other delegates from the U.S. included Kathleen Tyner, Hybeam Consulting, James P. Steyer, Common Sense, Martin Rayala, Telemedium, Michael Rich, Center on Media and Child Health, Patti Miller, Children Now, Ranny Levy, Kids First!, Andrea Isabel Quijada, New Mexico Media Literacy Project, and Arthur Kanegis, 2020 Productions, Inc.

CLASSROOM CONNECTIONS

Discover the techniques and tricks used to make dinosaurs come to life!
The BBC has produced an excellent "construction" web site for its television science series, Walking With Beasts which explores early historical eras to learn about early mammals and what may have killed the dinosaurs. The site provides behind-the-scenes explanations of the Computer Graphics, Animatronics, TV Production, Model Making, and Music & Sound Effects used to make the dinosaurs and primates look so real.

Selected resources on creating media and production help students "step into the shoes" of a writer, photographer, film or video-maker:
• Creating History Documentaries: A Step-by-Step Guide to Video Projects in the Social Studies Classroom
• How To Make Your Own Great Videos With Just A Camcorder
• How To Read A Film – DVD / Hardback Book Set
• Lights, Camera, Action!

Where do we get the maps in our heads?
CML's Jeff Share has used Reading Maps: What Maps Reveal About Bias and Point of View with students and adults – always with eye-opening results. Students examine the common Mercator map and the surprising Peters map, and then construct maps of their own. This lesson is a wonderful blend of social studies and media literacy skills and can be adapted for Grade 3 and higher.

DOWNLOAD THIS

"What would you know about God if your only source of information was television?"
In a story written for Beliefnet.com and picked by the Sunday New York Times, Teresa Blythe, author of Watching What We Watch, explores this question in the context of four new television shows with theological implications: Joan of Arcadia (CBS), Tru Calling (FOX), Wonderfalls (FOX), and Carnivale (HBO). Her article, titled "A Theology of Television" is a fascinating reflection - and not just for faith-based media educators.

AROUND THE MEDIA WORLD

Food Culture Meets TV Culture
There is no denying it: food is an integral part of our lives, including in the television we watch! The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is celebrating this part of our national heritage with Julia Child's Kitchen, from her home of 45 years and also the taping location for her last three cooking shows. The wonderful smells may be missing but you can explore Julia Child's kitchen virtually.

Also a flurry of TV-related articles appear in Gourmet magazine's September 2003 "Television Issue," including:
• Classic TV Dishes: Recipes decade by decade inspired by the popular programs of the time, such as Arroz con Pollo for the 1950's I Love Lucy and Ding Dong Eight-Alarm Chili for the 1980's The Cosby Show
• America's Kitchen: Snapshots from 50 years of sitcoms provide a glimpse into our lives, revealing what was on our tables and how it got there.
• The Accidental Purist by Joe Dolce: Nothing on the food scene has been the same since Julia Child arrived on our TV screens. And she still has some secrets to share.
• Lights, Camera, Oops by Sara Moulton: A peak behind the scenes at bloopers from the kitchens of TV cooking shows.

ACTION IDEA OF THE MONTH

Celebrate a Media Literacy Thanksgiving
To prepare for this month's special celebration of Thanksgiving, take a few minutes to send an email to someone who has inspired your interest in media literacy. Imagine hundreds of e-mail acknowledgements criss-crossing the Internet in the coming weeks, weaving a web of affirmation, gratitude and hope! The world could use more appreciation right now - and so could each of us! Happy Thanksgiving to all CONNECT subscribers! And thanks for YOUR support of media literacy and the work of CML.

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The CENTER FOR MEDIA LITERACY is a non-profit organization established to promote critical thinking about the media and to provide leadership, training and resources for media education in schools, religious and community organizations.

In the global media culture of the 21st century, we believe in empowerment through education for children, young people and adults. We rely on tax-deductible grants and individual donations to sustain and expand our work. Thank you for your support.