Unit 7 Healthy Consumerism

Chapter 25 Understanding the Media

© Copyright 2005 Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc.3 Chapter Objectives 1.Explain the terms medium, media, and mass media 2.Define the term media literacy 3.Identify several ways the mass media affect health 4.List five key things to be aware of when you see, read, or hear a media message (continues)

© Copyright 2005 Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc.4 Chapter Objectives (continued) 5.List and describe several ways advertisers market their products 6.Identify questions you can ask to analyze or evaluate a media message 7.Describe some of the effects of violence and sex in the media 8.Create a personal action plan to become a wise media consumer

© Copyright 2005 Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc.5 Introduction More forms of communication are available today than ever before Forms of communication include books, newspapers, magazines, telephones, radios, televisions, films, and the Internet

© Copyright 2005 Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc.6 Media and Health Americans spend the majority of their free time with mass media Media takes up time teens might spend doing physical, social, and academic activities Television may change how you think and view the world

© Copyright 2005 Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc.7 Media and Social Reality Media messages are constructed They use special languages Their interpretations vary Most have a profit motive The messages contain specific information

© Copyright 2005 Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc.8 Advertising in the Mass Media Creation of needs Use of product placement Use of cross-promotion Controversial advertising

© Copyright 2005 Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc.9 Violence and Sex in Media Violence –Violence is often used to solve problems and conflict –Some experts believe it is a risk to teen health Sex –Sex in media does not represent reality –Females are often represented as sex objects or valued only for appearance

© Copyright 2005 Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc.10 Analyzing and Evaluating Mass Media Examples of guiding questions 1.What is the message? 2.Who created it? 3.What was their purpose? 4.What techniques did they use to make it believable? 5.Who makes money or benefits? 6.What is left out of the message? 7.Do I agree with the message? 8.What can I do with the information I obtain?

© Copyright 2005 Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc.11 Summary Media messages can influence your life It is important to know how to analyze and evaluate media messages You can learn to be media-literate