GSE 011 MEDIA & INFORMATION LITERACY I (MIL)

GSE 011

MEDIA & INFORMATION LITERACY I (MIL)

LECTURE NOTE

FIRST SEMESTER 2022/2023 SESSION

STATUS OF THE COURSE: COMPULSORY

COURSE OUTLINE

Definition of concepts in Medical and Information Literacy 

Democracy and MIL 

Media content and its uses 

News Reporting 

The power of the Visual and Language 

Contents of Representation of Gender and Disasters 

MIL Code of Ethics 

Application of codes of ethics various media 

Concept of Audience in MIL 

Types of Audiences – How Audiences negotiate meaning in MIL. 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this course are to improve student’s capacity to: 

Access, understand and evaluate information; 

Know how to use and share information responsibility, 

Be conscious of the type of information they seek and access and how eventually they use it.

Know their rights and those rights are affected by the types of information accessed and shared; 

Understand the different types of governance system that exist and affects them. 

DEFINITION OF KEY CONCEPTS IN MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY

In order to make clear the understanding of this course, it is important for us to define some key concepts that can enhance our basic understanding of the idea of Media and Information Literacy (MIL). Some of the concepts we shall be attempting to define are: 

Media 

Information 

Communication 

Media and Information Literacy (MIL) 

Media

Media are the channels or means through which information can be shared among people. As sources of information, media plays vital role in sharing up-to-date facts, ideas, knowledge or experiences that help the public make the right choices and decision every day. Media can be as a Print or Electronic forms. We have indigenous/oral media such as town crier, drum, town hall meeting, and trumpet. We also have traditional mass media, such as radio, television, newspapers, magazines, and films. And nowadays, new/social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, etc. 

Information

Information refers to any fact, idea, knowledge or experience that helps people make informed decisions. Information plays a key role in every aspect of people lives. It enables them make choices that have long lasting between consequences and some positive and others negatives.

Communication

The term communication can be defined as a process of sharing or exchanging information, ideas, feelings, attitudes, values and beliefs between or among two or more people for the purpose of achieving common understanding. Communication is the actionable transfer of information from one person, group, or place to another through medium; i.e either by writing, speaking, or using a media that provides a means of understanding.

From the definitions above, we can infer the following: 

1. Communication is a process of exchange. This means that communication is a systematic, continuous and interactive activity. By exchange, it implies also that communication is a two-way process, which starts first from the sender to the receiver, then it goes back from the receiver to the sender, and it goes again from the sender to the receiver in a cyclical (continuous) manner.

2. So many things are shared in the process of communication. People often think that communication involves sharing written or oral information only. But from the definition above, we see that a whole lot of things can be shared through communication including: idea, feeling, attitudes, values and beliefs. 

3. It usually (but not all the time) involve two or more people. Because it is an exchange, communication most times involves at least two people. However, there are instances where it involves just one person, as in the case of intra-persons communication e.g soliloquizing (the act of talking to oneself or taking when alone).

4. The main aim or objective of communication is to achieve common understanding between the sender and they receive.

Media and Information Literacy (MIL)

MIL stands for “Media and Information Literacy”. Before now, we had different types of literacy which include media literacy, information literacy, library literacy etc, but all these have been merged into one and are now being described as Media and Information Literacy. 

Media and Information Literacy can therefore be defined as the ability to access, critically analyses, evaluate and produce media and information content. This mean that, with knowledge of MIL, an individual will know how to: 

Find information and test such information is true or not. 

Understand how to detect fake information. 

And encourage other people to create and spread only true content on any media platform.

Moreover, from the above definition/explanation we can say that Media and Information Literacy (MIL) is a ‘combination of knowledge, attitudes, skills and practices required to access, analyse, evaluate, use, produce, and communicate information and knowledge in creative and ethical ways that respect human rights” (Moscow Declaration on Media and Information Literacy 2012).

Why do we Need Media and Information Literacy?

We need media and information literacy for the following reasons:

There is a lot of fake news and hate speech circulating and causing problems in different societies. People believe and act on these fake news posted on social media platforms, mistakenly carried by media houses in error or circulated by word of mouth. 

Wrong information has caused people to make decision that affect them and others negatively. There have been causalities from people who acted on wrong information. 

With MIL, people will be able to understand how to create responsible media and information contents. 

People will learn to be responsible when sharing media and information contents. Basically, people need to live by the code: Nthinkb4youclick.

MIL will create responsible and active citizens who crosscheck information and date, no matter who said it or where it is coming from before sharing. They are also able to caution other because they know the right thing to do. 

DEMOCRACY AND MIL

Democracy is popularly defined as government of the people, by the people and for the people and for the people. This means that participation of citizens in choosing their leaders and in the decision making process in governance is one of the major characteristics of a democracy, and to be able to do this effectively, the citizens need to be media and information literate. Media and Information Literacy can therefore promote democracy in the following ways: 

1. Democracy requires people to select their leaders periodically based on the information they have about them. MIL will therefore equip citizens with the skills needed to access the right information they need to make the right choice of democratic leaders. 

2. Freedom of expression and freedom of information are some of the rights guaranteed in democratic governance. MIL will also help the citizens to fully understand these rights, and how to fully enjoy them in a democratic setting. 

3. MIL helps the citizens to identify and avoid undemocratic practices such as hate speech, spreading fake news and false information that can cause tension and crisis in the society. 

4. MIL promotes democratic culture by teaching citizens to be tolerant of ideas opinions and views that are different from theirs. This will promote mutual understating and respect for diversity and opposing views, which is a major characteristic of democracy.

5. MIL also promotes democracy because it equips citizens with the skills needed to them to access the information and facts they need to participate actively in the governance process. 

6. MIL also helps citizens to acquire the skills to gather information needed demand accountability from their elected leaders. 

Forms of Media Contents

Media are the major sources of information and their content usually takes different forms. Understanding these forms will help us make effective and efficient use of the media products. Below are some media contents and their uses: 

1. News: This is a timely, accurate, objective and balanced report about events and issues happening in the society. Media audiences use news mainly for the purpose of getting information about what is happening in their locality, in their country and in the world at large. 

2. Editorials: This is usually contained in the print media (newspapers and magazines). They represent the corporate position or opinion of the media organisations on tropical (current) issue of national or global importance. Editorials are often used to draw attention of policy makers and the general public to an issue that needs urgent attention. They are also used to shaped public opinion and government policies on issues of national or international interest. 

3. Features: This is also usually contained in the print media. They are usually lengthy essays on an issue of public concern, written from a human-interest angle. Because of their lengthy nature, they can be used to educate and inform readers on a particular subject matter, as well as entertain them. 

4. Opinions: These are articles written by individual that are not staff of the media organisations. They are usually written either by regular columnists or readers who feel strongly about an issue of national or international interest and have decided to put their thoughts, ideas and feelings in a written form and send them to a newspaper or magazines to publish. Opinion contents in print media can further be divided into three categories: editorial (as explained above); Letters to the editor, often written and sent to the editors by readers who want to lead their voices to discussion on issues of concern to them; opinion columns, which are written by some people who have been chosen by the media organisation to make contributions to the newspaper or magazine on a regular basis. Opinions are generally used for giving room to readers to express their views, feelings thoughts on matters of interest to them. 

5. Advertisement/Commercials: This is a persuasive form of communication that paid for by an identified sponsor, with the aim of convincing a potential buyer to purchase a product or service, or persuade them to support or join a cause. It called advertisement in the print media, while it is called commercials in it electronic media. Advertisements and commercials are used by companies and organisations to promote their products and services, while consumers use them to get information that will guide their choices of product and services to buy.

6. Documentaries: A documentary is a radio or television programme, or a films which shows real events (not fiction) or provides information about a particular subjects. Documentaries are used for different purpose which include: to education, inform, enlighten and to preserve historical facts and heritage. 

7. Magazine Programmers: This is a programme on radio or television consisting several segments dealing with different topics, people and events. Example magazine programmes are Kaakaki on AIT, AM Express on NTA, etc. Because the multiplicity of contents offered this type of programme, they have multiple uses which include information, entertainment, education and enlightenment. 

8. Music: This are songs performed by artist on stage or in the recording stand and played periodically on broadcast media stations. Songs are mostly used for entertainment purposes. They can be sometimes used for education public enlightenment and advertising purposes. 

9. Sports: These are organized activities in which individual or teems companies against another or other for entertainment. Example of sports programme are football matches, Olympic, Games, etc. Sports are used mainly for entertainment, drama, films or television services. The main use of drama is for entertainment. 

NEWS REPORTING

News reporting is the process of gathering, selecting, processing and timely dissemination of relevant facts and information. News reporting is very important because people rely daily on news reports to update their knowledge and to get information about what is happening in their immediate environment, and even in far places. 

In the past, news reporting used to be the sole responsibility of journalists and media professionals who are trained in the act of gathering processing and disseminating information in a professional manner that will not cause crisis in the society. Nowadays however, due to the availability and accessibility to the internet and the smart phones, almost everybody plays the role of a news reporter. Without having a good knowledge of the processes and ethics guiding news reporting. In news reporting, the following are to be taken into consideration: 

1. The information being reported must be factual and accurate: In news reporting, you must confirm whether the information is true and accurate before sharing it. 

2. You must ensure objectivity in news reporting: You are not expected to take side or support any of the groups involved in the story you are reporting. You must be impartial and unbiased in your report. 

3. You must ensure credibility: To achieve this, you have to source and crosscheck your facts and information from reliable sources. Do not spread rumours as news report. If you are not sure of the source of the story, do not report or spread it. 

4. You must ensure that the report is balanced: To achieve balance, you must make sure that all the opinions and view of all the different group involved in the story are represented in the report. 

5. Attribution: Attribution means identifying and clearly stating the source of the information you are reporting. Apart from making sure that you get your information from credible sources, it is also expected that you cite or mention your report, the sources (persons or agencies) from where you got the information you are sharing. You may however not disclose your source if doing so can put them into trouble or harm them. 

THE POWER OF THE VISUAL AND LANGUAGE

Visuals (pictures or images) and language (spoken or written words) are the two most powerful tools of communication. It is therefore important in the context of Media and information Literacy for us to understand the power of these two important communication tools in order for us to be careful in the way we use them in creating and sharing media contents. Below are some of the powers of visuals and languages in communication within the society. It is however important to state that these powers can either be negative or positive, depending on the intention of the person using them:

1. They can be used to promote peace and harmony among individuals and groups within the society.

2. They can be used to incite individuals or groups against themselves and constituted authorities, thereby causing enmity, hatred among individuals and groups as well as crises in the society. 

3. They can be used to promote acceptable social values and ideas such as hardworking, tolerance, honesty, patriotism, etc. 

4. They can also be used to promote social vices such as corruption, money rituals prostitutions armed robbery, internet fraud etc. 

5. Pictures and words can also be used as instruments of hate speech to tarnish other people’s image and reputations. 

CONTEXTS OF REPRESENTATION OF GENDER AND DISASTERS 

Definition of Gender

Gender refers to socially constructed roles assigned to individuals on the basis of their peculiar characteristics as either male or female. Some of these roles are assigned to men and women based on stereotypes rather than their abilities or verifiable evidences.

Gender Representation in the Media

- Women gender are often portrayed as sex objects or objects for sexual pleasure which should be seen rather than heard. Men on the other hand are often portrayed as serious and decent. 

- Women are often portrayed in domestic roles such as mothers and housewives, nannies, etc., while men are portrayed as career professionals. 

- Women are often portrayed as week and dependent on men, while men are portrayed as strong and independent. 

- Men are often portrayed as natural leaders while women are represented as followers. 

- The images of women are also often used as object of commercial advertisement to advertise products that are sometimes not in any way related to women. 

- In relation to their male counterparts, women are often under-represented or under reported in news stories and media discussions. 

Representation of Disasters in the Media

The philosophy guiding the representation of disasters in the media is built on the popular belief that “bad news is god news”. Hence most news media are often flooded with news of crises and disasters. The problem is not just that the media is flooded with reports on crises and disaster, how these crises are portrayed or represented in various media is also a major source of concern. Below are some of the ways in which disaster are represented in the media. 

1. Disasters are often given prominence or priority in most media reports. A glance through the pages of Nigerian national daily newspapers or news bulletins on radio or television will not only reveal that most of the stories are reporting on disaster, but they are always the major headlines. 

2. In some instances, particularly on social media, disaster are sometimes trivialized. Sometimes, people who find themselves at the scenes of disasters are quick to make short videos of such disaster and post on social media, rather than making effort to assist videos of such disasters and post on social media, rather than making effort to assist the victims the victims of such disasters. 

3. In the international media space, the representation of disasters is characterized by stereotypes. For instance, it is believed that nothing good other than crises and disaster can come out of certain regions of the world (Particularly Africa). As such, most of these international media organisations tend to ignore positive developments and focus only on disasters such as war, famine and conflicts where reporting about such region. 

4. The portrayal of disasters in some media is sometimes glamorized and made to look more dramatic than the real event itself. The implication of this is that the images of disasters being portrayed in the media sometimes tend to have more devastating psychological effect on the audience, even more than the impact it has on the actual victims of the disaster. 

5. The privacy of victims of disasters and the protection of minors are most at times ignored or violated in the course of reporting disasters. 

CONCEPT OF AUDIENCE IN MIL

The concept of audience in the context of Media and Information Literacy refers to the people who are the receivers, users or consumers of the information, facts, opinions entertainment, and advertisement being shared through media channels. 

Target audiences are therefore groups of readers, viewers or listeners defined by specific characteristics such as age, income, gender or interests. This is a specific group for whom media and other organizations develop content and shape messages. 

For the print media, the concept of audience refer to the readers who read the newspapers or magazine contents being produced by print media organisations, while for the electronic media the concept of media refers to listeners (for radio) and viewers (for television and film) who consume electronic media contents. 

Media audiences make use of the media contents for different reasons and purposes. According to Blumer and Katz (1974), media audiences might choose and use a media text for or all the following reasons: 

1. Diversion: an escape from everyday life

2. Personal relationships: Seeing yourself connected to a television character ‘family’

3. Personal Identity: being able to identify with and learn from the behaviours attitudes and values reflected in media texts. 

4. Surveillance: Using the media and information texts to learn about what is going on in the world around you, and to gain Information that could be useful for daily life (e.g, weather forecasts, news, election results, etc). 

TYPES OF AUDIENCES

There are different types of audience in Media and Information Literacy. These audiences can be categorized based on how they interpret or make meaning out of the media contents encountered or consumed. In this regard, media audiences can be categorized in to these two broad categories: 

1. Active Audience: This category of media audiences are enlightened, critical and verse selective of the media contents they consume. They are said to be active because they are not accepted and consume all the media contents that come their way at face value.  Rather they negotiate the meaning they take from a text (media contents), accepting some elements and rejecting others. They make careful observation on how meaning constructed in footages or photographs (through camera angles, type of shots editing etc). In the context of Media and Information Literacy, this category of audience can be said to media and information literate. 

2. Passive Audience: In contrast to the active audience, this category of media audience is not enlightened, critical or selective about the media contents they consume. They accept and consume any media content that come their way at face value. They do not bother to negotiate any meaning from a media text. Rather, they willingly accept all the elements in the media content and take on the meaning intended by the producer of sub component. In the context of Media and Information Literacy, this category of audience is be said to be media and information illiterate.