In this issue, we celebrate the passage of media literacy legislation in states around the country with special focus on California and Washington. We interviewed two individuals who played (are playing) pivotol roles in this effort -- Marilyn Cohen, a top media literacy researcher and advocate from Washington State; and Jennifer Howeter, from the California Department of Education.
Representation is at the heart of media literacy. In this issue of Connections, we invite you to explore representation from two individuals’ perspectives, discussing non-binary and LGBTQ gender identities. We interviewed Alexx Souter, advocate, and Rich Ferraro, Chief Communications Officer of GLAAD, a media advocacy organization for LGBTQ. CML News includes an article by Tessa Jolls and Michele Johnsen, "Media Literacy: A Foundational Skill for Democracy in the 21st Century," published in the Hastings Law Journal.
In this issue of Connections, we discuss schools as online and offline communities, and how media literacy skills can empower students to actively and responsibly address the difficult topics and risks of our day. We share front-line insights from National School Walkout Day, with a case study on media literacy in action. We also explore how to help students understand their own part in communities, with parent involvement. Includes interviews with Rose Pierre-Louis of Connecticut Public’s Thinkalong program, and Mary Ann Sund of Lersun Development.
The representation of gender in media has long been a subject of fascination as well as critical analysis and change management for those advancing and practicing media literacy. In this issue of Connections, we highlight two organizations addressing these issues worldwide. Promundo, founded in Brazil in 1997, promotes gender equality and violence prevention by engaging men and boys in partnership with women and girls. The Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) teams with more than 100 countries to keep accurate data on gender representation in the news.