– What is media literacy?
– Why is it important?
– Why is it dismissed?

The concept of media literacy is authentic and exotic.  According to scholar Rubin’s analysis, there are three main levels, namely, ability model, knowledge model and understanding model.  As far as the ability model is concerned, it refers to the ability of citizens to acquire, analyze, evaluate and transmit various forms of information, focusing on the cognitive process of information.  The knowledge model view believes that media literacy is a knowledge system about how the media functions to society, and its focus is on how to transmit information.  The view of understanding mode claims that the so-called media literacy is to understand that media information is forced by cultural, economic, political, and technological forces in the process of manufacturing, production, and transmission, focusing on the ability to judge and understand information.  In 1992, the American Media Literacy Research Center defined media literacy as follows: Media literacy refers to the ability of people to choose, question, understand, evaluate, create and create information when they face various information in different media.  Production capacity and ability to react speculatively.

 In a nutshell, the so-called media literacy refers to the ability to use mass communication resources correctly and constructively, to be able to make full use of media resources to improve oneself and participate in social progress.  It mainly includes the public’s motivation for using media resources, the methods and attitudes of using media resources, the effectiveness of using media resources, and the ability to criticize the media.  First, understand basic media knowledge and how to use media;

 Second, learn to judge the meaning and value of media information;

 Third, learn the knowledge and skills of creating and disseminating information;

 Fourth, understand how to use mass media to develop yourself.  “Media literacy includes not only the ability to accept media products, but also the ability to look at the content of the media with an independent and critical eye and the ability to use the media constructively; media literacy is not only the need to use the media, but also the quality of a modern society’s citizens.  Some scholars also pointed out that “media literacy refers to the literacy of people to correctly judge and evaluate the meaning and function of media information, and to effectively create and disseminate information.  “

 The concept of “Second Media Age” was first proposed by American media culture scholar Mark Post.  He believes that “in film, radio, and television, the few producers transmit information to a large number of consumers, and there are strict restrictions on the broadcast mode. However, with the early intervention of the information superhighway, satellite technology and television,  The combination of computers and telephones, an alternative model will most likely lead to the emergence of a system that integrates producers, sellers, and consumers. The second era of mass media is leaping into the field of vision.”  The essential feature is two-way communication and decentralization.  Taking the Internet as an example, the opening of Internet “blogs” and “podcasts” provides a platform for the public to release information. Every citizen is an audience or a preacher, and every individual member of modern society is a media citizen.  In recent years, all kinds of fake news, funny text, and spoof pictures have become more and more intense on the Internet. Many experts and scholars have put forward new requirements for regulating online behavior. The government has issued relevant laws and policies. However, the improvement of the internal media literacy of the public is the key.

Why should you aim for varied views but the factual consensus in your PLN?

The abundant information resources and convenient ways of dissemination on the Internet have created extremely favorable conditions for online learning.  However, many information on the Internet is not as high-quality as people hope, and it is not easy to find information that suits the needs of learners.  More importantly, obtaining information is not the main purpose of learning. How to convert information into knowledge so that learners can digest, understand and make it meaningful is the real purpose of learning.  The difference between information and knowledge reminds us that the focus of online learning should be on learners’ cognition, understanding and transformation of information. This process requires learners to think, analyze and judge.  E-learning is not simply about moving information online or downloading it to a file package. More importantly, it must turn information into knowledge and become a wealth of learners.

 Knowledge can create behavior, and reliable information is its prerequisite, but only meaningful and correct judgments can awaken its vitality.  From this perspective, it is essential to transform information into truly useful knowledge and to improve learners’ ability to process information.  In contrast to our online teaching, many teachers and students believe that “owning the Internet means possessing knowledge”. Teachers often turn students’ minds into containers for filling information. The questions designed are often filled-in, and students can find answers without thinking.  , The research carried out is also simple, the teacher’s question is low, and the student’s answer is poor.  Some teachers and students have reached a level of superstition about the Internet, believing that the Internet is the only source of information, so that whenever there is a need for information, they will search on the Internet, and all research studies will be conducted on the computer.  Online teaching is repeating the mistakes of exam-oriented education.  If teachers just put students’ works on the Internet at will, the result will be a website that is quickly outdated and of little use.  If teachers clearly realize that setting up a website is not the most important thing in itself, but the more important meaning is that students can use the information displayed on the Internet to carry out collaborative research, and students’ learning will be improved because of the website.

 In order to prevent students from becoming slaves of network information, it is necessary to transform the function of education, liberate education from the shackles of a single knowledge imparting, and transform knowledge into wisdom through education, so that civilization can accumulate human personality.  In order to enable students to learn “online learning”, they must cultivate their cognitive and judgment abilities, so that students can use computers to store conclusions, and use their brains to observe, think, and store problems.

Open dialogues about media literacy and factual information can create conflict, why does this happen?

One is the diversification of the information field.  In the new media era, information channels are diverse and complex, and different fields are gradually formed due to differences in content producers and audiences.  For example, the distinction between elites and grassroots, professional and non-professional, official and public information fields, thus forming a “tribal survival.”

 The second is the four modernizations in communication.  Fragmented information reception brings shallow information production and entertainment information expression, and finally forms an emotional public opinion ecology.

 The third is the polarization of online public opinion groups.  In the “post-truth” era, fake news and rumors prevail. People’s desire to express emotions, express opinions, and stand in line based on certain events is greater than the pursuit of truth.  In the black-and-white public opinion field, the event flipped or even flipped to become the “new normal”.  Opinions precede facts, sensibility replaces reason, emotions are excessive and facts are scarce.  

How to improve our media literacy in the new media era?

 First, we must improve the ability to acquire media information.  The first is to read efficiently while avoiding information overload; the second is to look at the source of the information first, to see if the news information has a clear publishing agency and author, and to read more professional media reports and professional official account content; the third is to have the awareness of information cross-confirmation.  For example, to conduct mutual verification of an event by reading information from different media channels, and searching to see if there has been a rumor refutation.  Second, we must improve media information analysis capabilities.  The first is to judge whether the media information conforms to the facts and whether it conflicts with common sense; the second is to see whether the causality and relevance of the event are logical; the third is to look at the author’s position and intentions and opinions, some articles do not rule out opinions first or public relations behavior; fourth, pay attention to the author  Source reliability of data, evidence and materials used.

 The third is to improve media evaluation capabilities.  Ability to question and criticize the content of information.  Ask a few more whys and avoid information control.

 The last point is to continuously improve media communication capabilities.  The first is not to easily adopt and spread the news of unknown origin; the second is not to forward the suspicious news that cannot be verified; the third is not to disclose the private information of the parties involved in the incident, and the use of “human flesh” is cautious; the fourth is to verify and remind suspected false information.

What is the benefit of having a PLN that values media literacy?

The purpose and significance of media literacy are mainly: 1. In terms of cognition, help citizens improve their ability to understand the nature and form of information carried and broadcast by the media, be familiar with the methods of seeking information, and have the ability to evaluate, explain, discriminate, and choose  2. The ability to organize and aggregate information; 2. In terms of affection, help citizens recognize the value and power of media information, and judge its appropriateness, which is legal and ethical; 3. In terms of skills, help citizens have and improve the use of media tools  The basic abilities of the company include the use of computers, media systems and networks for information retrieval, processing and dissemination; 4. In terms of creating an environment, help citizens continue to attach importance to the scientific use of media, actively participate in the creation of a suitable and healthy media ecological environment and atmosphere, and promote  The reform and development of the cultural media industry and journalism will promote the mass media to improve the quality and social benefits, and promote the media with good social benefits to continuously obtain better economic benefits and have more stamina for development.

Due to the rapid development of China’s mass media, it has even become the fourth pillar industry of the national economy.  From the perspective of development communication, the media will play a huge role in the transition from traditional society to modern society.  Not only does it directly provide the public with various types of economic information and other public resources, it can also help eliminate the gap between the rich and the poor, eliminate the public “knowledge gap” problem, and build a community form in the information age where the public takes the media as the core.  In addition, it can also solve a wide range of sociological issues such as children’s education, women’s issues, and cultural product production.