Media & Information Literacy For Teachers

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  • Home
  • Introduction
  • Modules
    • Module 1 : Citizenship, Freedom of Expression and Information, Access to Information, Democratic Discourse and Life-long Learning
      • Unit 1: Understanding Media and Information Literacy – An Orientation
      • Unit 2: MIL and Civic Participation
      • Unit 3: Interactive with Media and Other Information Providers such as Libraries, Archives and the Internet
      • Unit 4: MIL, Teaching and Learning
    • Module 2: Understanding the News, Media, and Information Ethics
      • Unit 1: Journalism and Society
      • Unit 2: Freedom, Ethics and Accountability
      • Unit 3: What Makes News – Exploring the Criteria
      • Unit 4: The News Development Process – Going Beyond the 5Ws and 1H
    • Module 3: Representation in Media and Information
      • Unit 1: News Reporting and the Power of the Image
      • Unit 2: Industry Codes on Diversity and Representation
      • Unit 3: Television, Films, Book Publishing
      • Unit 4: Representation and Music Videos
      • Unit 5: Digital Editing and Computer Retouching
    • Module 4: Languages in Media and Information
      • Unit 1: Reading Media and Information Texts
      • Unit 2: The Medium and the Message – Print and Broadcast News
      • Unit 3: Film Genres and Storytelling
      • Unit 4: Camera Shots and Angles – Conveying Meaning
    • Module 5: Advertising
      • Unit 1: Advertising, Revenue and Regulations
      • Unit 2: Public Service Announcements
      • Unit 3: Advertising – the Creative Process
      • Unit 4: Advertising and the Political Arena
      • Unit 5: Transnational Advertising and ‘Superbrands’
    • Module 6: New and Traditional Media
      • Unit 1: From Traditional Media to New Media Technologies
      • Unit 2: Uses of New Media Technologies in Society – Mass and Digital Communications
      • Unit 3: Use of Interactive Multimedia Tools, Including Digital Games in Classrooms
    • Module 7: Internet Opportunities and Challenges
      • Unit 1: Young People in the Virtual World
      • Unit 2: Challenges and Risks in the Virtual World
    • Module 8: Information Literacy and Library Skills
      • Unit 1: Concepts and Applications of Information Literacy
      • Unit 2: Learning Environments and Information Literacy
      • Unit 3: Digital Information Literacy
    • Module 9: Communication, MIL and Learning – a Capstone Module
      • Unit 1: Communication, Teaching and Learning
      • Unit 2: Learning Theories and MIL
      • Unit 3: Managing Change to Foster an Enabling Environment for MIL in Schools
    • Module 10: Audience
    • Module 11: Media, Technology and the Global Village
      • Unit 1: Media Ownership in Today’s Global Village
      • Unit 2: Socio-Cultural and Political Dimensions of Globalized Media
      • Unit 3: Commoditization of Information
      • Unit 4: The Rise of Alternative Media
    • Module 12: Freedom of Expression Toolkit
  • Resources
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Home / Modules / Module 2: Understanding the News, Media, and Information Ethics

Module 2: Understanding the News, Media, and Information Ethics

The central purpose of journalism is to tell the truth so that people will have the information to be sovereign.”
— Jack Fuller, in News Reporting and Writing

Background and Rationale

With the advent of the new information and communication technologies, the reach and impact of traditional media (radio, television and newspaper) have been multiplied, and information and news have thus become more widely available than ever before. In this information age, journalists, information professionals and the news media (new and old) play a central role in providing us with access to information beyond our immediate experience, and in facilitating citizen participation in good governance and open, democratic and stable societies.

This module will explore the role and function of news media (new and traditional) and other information providers in our personal lives and in democratic societies, such as enhancing democratic freedom and info-ethics, building civic responsibility and citizenship, and requiring and promoting transparency and accountability. It will also give an overview of the news media’s evolving role, from serving merely as a mirror of society to being a gatekeeper of information, a watchdog with a check-and-balance function, enabler of public debate, and facilitator of citizen participation.

The module will enable teachers to explore such issues as freedom of information and freedom of expression, as well as the importance of accuracy, accountability and transparency in news reporting.

Thanks to new technologies, we are also witnessing an increase in user-generated content, such as eyewitness reports from citizens. While this phenomenon presents us with a great diversity of voices and perspectives, it also reinforces the need to critically evaluate the many sources of news and information available today. In becoming media and information literate, teachers will be able not only to analyze and evaluate information and the news they receive on a daily basis, but also to exercise their civic responsibility to demand fair and accurate news reporting, as well as to advocate for free, independent and pluralistic media.

RESOURCES FOR THIS MODULE

RESOURCES FOR THIS MODULE

  • Joseph, Ammu. (2005): Media Matters Citizens Care. Retrieved on 17 May 2011 from
  • Article 19. (1999, June). Right to Know: Principles on Freedom of Information Legislation. International Standards Series. Retrieved 27 May 2009
  • ASLIB Training Suite. Freedom of Information. (2004). Retrieved 15 February 2004
  • Bertrand, Claude-Jean. (2003). Media Ethics and Accountability Systems. New York: Hampton Press
  • Coblenz, W. (Producer) and Goldman, W. (Writer). (1976). All the President’s Men (Film). Warner Bros
  • Committee to Protect Journalists
  • Dominick, J. R. (2007). The Dynamics of Mass Communications. 9th ed. Boston: McGrawHill
  • Humanext. Ethics Trainings. (2009). Ankerstar and Dalke’s Balancing Personal and Professional Ethics (programme with Trainer’s Guide, reproducible exercises, handouts, case studies); Dr. Louis V. Larimer’s Seminar on Ethical Reasoning (with Ethical Type Indicator Profile and Training Manual). Retrieved 22 April 2009
  • Kovach, B. and Rosenstiel, T. (2001). The Elements of Journalism: What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect. New York: Three Rivers Press of Random House;
  • Mencher, Melvin. (2006). News Reporting and Writing (10th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill
  • Mendel, Toby. (2008). Freedom of Information: A Comparative Legal Survey (2nd Ed.). Paris: UNESCO
  • Poynter Institute
  • Reporters sans frontiers
  • Rosenstiel, Tom and A. Mitchell (eds). (2003). Thinking Clearly: Cases in Journalistic Decision-Making. New York: Columbia University Press
  • State of the News Media
  • Ward, S.J.A. (2005). Philosophical Foundations of Global Journalism Ethics. Journal of Mass Media Ethics 20:1, 3-21
  • Woodward, Bob and Carl Bernstein. (1974). All the President’s Men. New York: Simon and Schuster;
  • UNESCO. (2009) Guidelines for Broadcasters on Promoting User Generated Content and Media and Information Literacy. Paris: UNESCO
  • UNESCO. (2007). Model Curricula for Journalism Education for Developing Countries and Emerging Democracies. Paris: UNESCO
  • University of Kansas. History of American Journalism. (2009). Retrieved 22 April 2009
  • Unit 1: Journalism and Society
  • Unit 2: Freedom, Ethics and Accountability
  • Unit 3: What Makes News – Exploring the Criteria
  • Unit 4: The News Development Process – Going Beyond the 5Ws and 1H

Modules

  • Module 1 : Citizenship, Freedom of Expression and Information, Access to Information, Democratic Discourse and Life-long Learning
  • Module 2: Understanding the News, Media, and Information Ethics
  • Module 3: Representation in Media and Information
  • Module 4: Languages in Media and Information
  • Module 5: Advertising
  • Module 6: New and Traditional Media
  • Module 7: Internet Opportunities and Challenges
  • Module 8: Information Literacy and Library Skills
  • Module 10: Audience
  • Module 11: Media, Technology and the Global Village
  • Module 12: Freedom of Expression Toolkit

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