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RESERVE ONLINE FOR NATIONAL CONFERENCE — REGISTER BY 5/15 TO SAVE $$$

Registration for the 2003 National Media Education Conference in Baltimore June 28 – July 1 is now fast, easy – and online! Check out AMLA's website – then reserve your spot for NMEC 2003. If you've never attended the Center's media literacy "Crash Course" – take advantage of the (optional) pre-conference session "Media Literacy 101: An Orientation in Three Parts" led by Elizabeth Thoman and Jeff Share. The Center for Media Literacy and GPN Educational Media are set to run the conference bookstore – so while in Baltimore, be sure to stop by and check out the latest in media literacy books, videos, DVD's, CD-Rom's and teaching resources. Act quickly to take advantage of the discounted early bird registration fee of only $325 for AMLA members/$375 for non-members – the deadline is May, 15, 2003.

FREE MEDIA LITERACY INSTITUTE FOR CALIFORNIA PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS REPEATS JUNE 8 – 9

Building on the success of our March event, "A Special Institute on Media Literacy: How to Empower Youth to Make Sense of Our Media World" – CML and the Museum of Tolerance are pleased to offer K-12 public school educators in California a second opportunity to attend the free two-day Tools for Tolerance® for Educators program June 8 and 9 at the Museum in West Los Angeles. Sessions will address the impact of the media's role in representing society and the challenge this presents for anti-bias education. Registration requires a refundable $10 deposit – and includes travel and hotel accommodations for one evening along with some meals (conditions and restrictions apply). Contact Tools for Tolerance® for Educators at 310.772.7625 or mot@wiesenthal.net for additional details and to obtain a registration form.

CML SERVICES & RESOURCES

CML/GPN SET TO MAKE BI-MONTHLY PRODUCT RELEASES

Now CML is truly the best place for you to find the newest in cutting-edge media literacy resources! Starting this month, CML and GPN Educational Media are making bi-monthly "new product" releases. Our product bulletin, New for You! (May 2003), has the latest books, videos, DVDs, CD-ROMs and teaching resources selected and endorsed by the Center for Media Literacy. Full descriptions of all 14 of our new resources – offered exclusively online! A few of the new products now available include:

• The Gospel According to Tony Soprano
• Teaching Youth Media – by noted media educator and documentarian Steve Goodman
• What We Saw: The Events of September 11, 2001 – in Words, Pictures and Video
• Creating Competent Communicators: Activities for Teaching – Speaking, Listening and Media Literacy.

Click here to access CML's complete online Media Literacy Catalog



SECOND EDITION OF SCANNING TELEVISION NOW AVAILABLE

The long-awaited Scanning Television / Second Edition, is now here! Distributed exclusively in the U.S. by the Center for Media Literacy and GPN Educational Media, this is an all-new 2003 collection of the award-winning series from Canada. Available on video or DVD, the instructional package features four copies of a 96-page leader's guide written by Neil Anderson, Kathleen Tyner and John Pungente, SJ – and five hours of (51 copyright-cleared) video segments selected and tested by classroom teachers. Topics cover key media issues such as advertising, terrorism and diversity. Lesson plans support each video and provide a wealth of discussion and activity ideas. This is a key resource for both novice and experienced media literacy educators!

CML PARTICIPATES IN LOCAL AND NATIONAL CONFERENCES

The Center for Media Literacy has been busy getting the word out about media education. Presentations have recently been made at the National Association of Elementary School Principals conference, the Journalism Association of Community Colleges Faculty Conference and the Conference on Family Wellness at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN.

ENHANCED MEDIA LITERACY 'CRASH COURSE' LAUNCHED

CML's media literacy Crash Course is alive and thriving! In February, participants from Los Angeles to Florida were treated to a revamped version of the workshop co-presented by Elizabeth Thoman and Jeff Share. Enhancements included a new PowerPoint presentation, more hands-on activities, 10 different video clips – and content based on CML's new MediaLit Kit^™ framework for learning and teaching. More information on upcoming workshops

CLASSROOM CONNECTIONS

FREE 'MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY' LESSON PLANS FOR SECONDARY TEACHERS

Secondary teachers looking to help students become more thoughtful consumers of media messages about politics – check out the Media and Democracy Institute's website for a wealth of materials on "media and democracy" created by 2002 teacher participants. Summer institutes for 2003 will run at Harvard University from July 20 to 26 and at the University of Texas from July 20 to July 23 (apply by June 1st).

Related Resources:

• Citizenship in a Media Age – lesson plans on campaign ads, polling and election coverage
• The Making of Citizens – young peoples' judgments of how social and political issues are represented
• The News Media Under Fire – video-based program teaching critical analysis of the news

MEDIA LITERACY TIPS

WEBSITES OFFER ADVICE TO HELP CHILDREN (AND ADULTS) COPE WITH DIFFICULT NEWS

With 9/11 and now the war with Iraq, young people are being exposed to news reports that may be scary or hard for them to understand. CML has identified several resources and websites to help children cope with violent or "difficult" stories and images.

"Talking with Kids About the News" Children Now web page providing 10 tips for talking with young people about news stories – including crime and violence, sex, drugs, race, accidents/disasters, sickness and death – and divorce.

"Helping Parents, Teachers, and Caregivers Deal with Children's Concerns About Violence in the News" The late Fred Rogers, provides sound, thoughtful advice about helping children cope with the fears and uncertainties that television news coverage may stimulate.

"Discussing the News with 3-7 Year-Olds: What to Do?" article posted on the National Association for the Education of Young Children's website provides recommendations for helping children during difficult times (such as 9/11).

And children may not be the only ones who are adversely affected by "difficult" news stories. A Wall Street Journal article posted on the Arizona Daily Star's website describes different studies on the health impacts of television viewing during a crisis. Findings from the Center of Urban Epidemiologic Studies include that "15% of (New York resident) respondents who had repeatedly viewed the most unsettling television images (of 9/11) had symptoms of depression, compared with 5% in the group that had limited exposure to the images." Food for thought for those of us who just can't seem to pry ourselves away from ongoing, "real-time" war coverage.

Related Resources:

• Responding to Media Violence – activities to help K-6 students explore media violence
• Beyond Blame: Challenging Violence in the Media – video-based curriculum in five units
• Mommy, I'm Scared – practical advice about the long-term impact of violence on children's psyche

MEDIA LITERACY AROUND THE WORLD

HOLLYWOOD ART DIRECTOR GIVES WAR COVERAGE A MAKE-OVER

Critics and analysts are saying that the Iraq war will be remembered for two things: "real time" war coverage and embedding of journalists in military units. But a third trend noted in media literacy circles is the use of a professionally developed "Hollywood set" for General Tommy Franks and other U.S. commanders to deliver daily war reports (to the tune of $500,000)! Gone are the pass? charts and pointers used by Generals Collin Powell and H. Norman Schwarzkopf during Desert Storm – and in their place during Operation Iraqi Freedom are backdrops supporting "aesthetically pleasing" journalism. Read the full timesonline article detailing how a top art director gave war coverage a Hollywood "make-over."

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The CENTER FOR MEDIA LITERACY is a non-profit organization established to promote critical thinking about the media and to provide leadership, training and resources for media education in schools, religious and community organizations.

In the global media culture of the 21st century, we believe in empowerment through education for children, young people and adults. We rely on tax-deductible grants and individual donations to sustain and expand our work. Thank you for your support.