Media Literacy Would be Offered in Public Schools Under Rep Maestas' Bill

Rep. Antonio “Moe” Maestas (D-Albuquerque) would like public schools to offer media literacy classes so New Mexico students can better understand and analyze the information they receive from sources like television, radio, and the Internet. Mass media plays a big role in our society, and critical thinking about what's communicated is essential if citizens are to make good decisions. House Bill 342, Public School Media Literacy Classes, would require that media literacy courses be offered as an elective for 6th-12th grade students in public schools beginning with the 2010-2011 school year. The bill passed the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee with a vote of 4-2 and goes next to the House Education Committee.

Rep. Maestas said, “Medial literacy is a 21st century approach to education. It provides a foundation for young people to decipher the countless media images and messages they receive on a daily basis. The average teenager spends almost 6 1/2 hours consuming media each day. Media literacy builds an understanding of the role of media in society as well as essential critical thinking skills necessary for citizens in an advanced democracy.”

Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media. Individuals who are media literate are able to critically think about media messages. According to supporters, media literacy education provides an opportunity for schools to bring our educational curriculum into the 21st century. Media literate youth are better able to understand the complex messages we receive from television, radio, newspapers, magazines, books, billboards, signs, packaging, marketing materials, video games, recorded music, the Internet, and other forms of media. When individuals are media literate, they are able to sift through the complex layers of information so they can understand the text and subtext of the messages.