Each of us is inundated by more media now than ever before – and its only increasing. Yet, we as a society have not found a common language that enables us to untangle the myriad of conflicting messages we consume every day.
IFC’s Make Media Matter is an interactive forum for fostering better communication and deeper understanding of the vital role media plays in our lives, society and world. Bringing together information and expertise from universities across the nation, we spark dialogue, expand comprehension and provide leadership, helping a new generation experience media in a more meaningful way.
If we as a society are to harness the true potential of media, we must meet, communicate, challenge, share and empower ourselves to consume and create media in ways that strengthen global citizenship. This is the goal of IFC’s Make Media Matter.
To communicate, we need a common language.
Hofstra Professor Paul Mihailidis’ “5 A’s of Media Literacy” provides a basic vocabulary for our site, helping to facilitate discussions by consumers and creators of media across the spectrum.
* ACCESS: Who controls access to the information you use?
* AWARENESS: How does the media you consume affect your values?
* ASSESSMENT: How do you assess a media experience to better understand it?
* APPRECIATION: How can you better appreciate a diversity of voices?
* ACTION: How can media literacy empower you to take action?
To deliver a constant stream of new content,
IFC’s Make Media Matter will grow and evolve with the times to include:
* The latest media news
* Panels on important issues
* Entertaining quizzes
* Step by Step exploration of the 5 A’s of Media Literacy
* Guides for consuming and creating your own media content. Related clips from IFC’s “Media Project” & Media Lab Studios
About Professor Paul Mihailidis, PhD
Director, Salzburg Academy on Media & Global Change, Salzburg, Austria Assistant Professor, Hofstra University, New York
Paul Mihailidis is an Assistant professor of Media studies in the Journalism, Media, and PR department at Hofstra University in New York. Mihailidis is also the Director of the Salzburg Academy on Media & Global Change (www.salzburg.umd.edu), where he sits on the program faculty. Mihailidis’s research concerns the effectiveness of media education in teaching about media’s roles and responsibilities in civil society. He has published widely on media literacy, global media and civil society, and on post-secondary learning outcomes in media programs. His most recent work has been featured on CSPAN and published in numerous languages by the World Association of Newspapers (WAN).
Mihailidis currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE), and sits on the editorial board of the Journal of Media Literacy Education (JMLE).