WEEKLY LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS

Media and Information Literacy

Grade 12 Quarter 3, Week 5
Disseminating Information
Name: ___________________________________________ Section: ______________________

Learning Objectives:

1. Present an issue in varied ways to disseminate information using the

codes, convention, and language of media.
MIL11/12IMILIIIa-2

Key Concepts

Media, in its broadest sense, exist for consumption and interpretation.

Any form of media aims to send messages regardless of the purpose. It is
crucial for media people to accurately consider how people understand and
interpret concepts, so their ideas also go along with the audience’s
expectations.
It is important for the audience to establish standardization in terms of
what to expect from the media. If expectations are unclear, then it is difficult
for both parties to meet halfway. This lesson focuses on how to deal with this
circumstance. For media and audience to be effectively bridged, the right
knowledge on codes and conventions must be properly understood. At the
end of this lesson, you are expected to identify codes, convention, and
message and how they affect the audience, producers and other stake holders
and present an issue in varied ways to disseminate information using codes,
convention and language of media by creating your own media and
information presentations.
In understanding media, there are codes and conventions that you must
know. It is like a building blocks of all media around you.

Genre - comes from the French word meaning 'type' or 'class ‘

- can be recognized by its common set of distinguishing
features (codes and conventions)

1
 - Examples of genre are horror, comedy, action comedy, sci-fi
, action, inspirational or family are examples of genre in films (also
applicable to TV shows)

Media Codes - are systems of signs which create meaning.

Convention - are generally the accepted ways in which codes are
organized in the product.
Shown in the table below are three types of media codes, namely: symbolic codes,
technical codes and written codes and conventions.

Source: Young, R. (2018, February 10). Media Codes and Conventions. Medium.
Retrieved https://media.codes/media-codes-and-conventions-c03423c06aa8

SYMBOLIC CODES
These are codes that are social in nature. This means that these codes
exist outside media product themselves but would be understood in by
audience in general. For example, seeing somebody receive a red rose in a
film would mean that there is a romantic relationship going between the main
characters. This is exactly similar to giving someone a red rose in real life.
Some examples of symbolic codes are the following: setting, mise en scene,
acting and color.
2
Setting
Known as the time and
place of the narrative, the
setting describes where the
story or a specific scene took
place. It can be as big as an
open space or as small as a
room. It can even be a created
atmosphere or frame of mind.

Source: Young, R. (2018, February 10). Media Codes and Conventions. Medium.Retrieved
https://media.codes/media-codes-and-conventions-c03423c06aa8

Mis en scene
In the world of media, mise en scene is a French term that means
‘everything the frame’. It also refers to all objects whiin a frame the way they
are arranged. To analyze this, you should look into the media’s set design,
costume, props, staging and composition.

Acting
In media, actors portray a variety of characters that contribute to
character development, creating tension or interpreting the narrative-. An
actor portrays his/her assigned character through the following elements:
facial expression, body language, vocal qualities, movement and body
contact.
3
 Source: Young, R. (2018, February 10). Media Codes and Conventions.
Medium. Retrieved https://media.codes/media-codes-and-conventions-c03423c06aa8

Color
In media, color has strong cultural connotations. As a student,
analyzing the use of color I media and its various aspects, you have to look
at the following: dominant color, contrasting foils and color symbolism.

Source: Young, R. (2018, February 10). Media Codes and Conventions. Medium. Retrieved
https://media.codes/media-codes-and-conventions-c03423c06aa8

TECHNICAL CODES
The second kind of codes are specific to a media form and do not live
as a separate entity. To help you analyze this, look at different camera shots
and their connotations in films and photographs. You have to remember
that these may mean nothing to you or to the general audience outside of
those forms. These codes include camerawork, editing, audio and lighting.
It is the way in which equipment
is used to tell the story (camera
techniques, depth of field, lighting,
and exposure etc.)

Source: Young, R. (2018, February 10). Media Codes and Conventions. Medium. Retrieved
https://media.codes/media-codes-and-conventions-c03423c06aa8

Camerawork
How the camera is operated, positioned, and moved to achieve certain
effects is also important in analyzing media. These include positioning,
movement, framing exposure and choice of lens.

4
 Advance Camera Shots Camera Angles
Technical Codes Basic Camera Shots
Camera
Extreme Wide Shot Two Shot Eye-Level
Techniques Wide Shot Cut Away High Angle
Medium Shot Over the Shoulder Low Angle
Medium Close- up Point of View Bird's Eye View
Close- up Selective Focus Worm’s Eye View
Extreme Close- up Arc Shot Slanted (canted)

5
 Source: Young, R. (2018, February 10). Media Codes and Conventions. Medium.
Retrieved https://media.codes/media-codes-and-conventions-c03423c06aa8

Editing
Another important consideration in studying media is editing. It is the
process of choosing, manipulating, and arranging images and sound.
Generally, it is done for graphic edits, rhythmic edits, spatial edits and
temporal edits.

Source: Young, R. (2018, February 10). Media Codes and Conventions. Medium.
Retrieved https://media.codes/media-codes-and-conventions-c03423c06aa8

Audio
Using sound expressively or naturalistically also plays a role in media.
Its three aspects include dialogue, sound effects and music.

Source: Young, R. (2018, February 10). Media Codes and Conventions. Medium.
Retrieved https://media.codes/media-codes-and-conventions-c03423c06aa8

6
 Lighting
Manipulating light, either natural or artificial, to selectively highlight
specific elements of certain scenes, is also one of the important elements of
media. These elements of lighting include quality, direction, source and color.

Source: Young, R. (2018, February 10). Media Codes and Conventions. Medium. Retrieved
https://media.codes/media-codes-and-conventions-c03423c06aa8

WRITTEN CODES

A type of code that is written usually includes formal written language

used in media. Similar to technical and symbolic codes, written codes can be
used to interpret a narrative and communicate information regarding a
character. Also, it can convey issues and themes emergent within the media
product.
It uses various language style and textual layout (headlines, captions,
speech bubbles, language style, etc.)
Example of this code are printed and spoken languages.

CONVENTION
To use media codes in some sort of norm where it is accepted by
everybody, there has to be a convention. These are closely connected to what
the audience expects from media. Examples are form, story, and genre.

7
 Source: Young, R. (2018, February 10). Media Codes and Conventions. Medium.
Retrieved https://media.codes/media-codes-and-conventions-c03423c06aa8

Form Convention
Form conventions are the distinct ways that audiences expect codes to
be arranged in media. Example of these expectations are the title of the film
at the beginning or the credits at the end. In printed media, it is expected
that newspapers will have a masthead or a banner story as the most
important news, then the sports news usually at the back. Mobile games
usually begin with a step-by-step with help texts on how the game works.

Source: Young, R. (2018, February 10). Media Codes and Conventions. Medium.Retrieved
https://media.codes/media-codes-and-conventions-c03423c06aa8

Story Conventions
These story conventions are common narrative structures and
expectations from media. Example of these are narrative structures, cause
and effect, character construction and point of view (POV).

Source: Young, R. (2018, February 10). Media Codes and Conventions. Medium.Retrieved https://media.codes/media-codes-and-
conventions-c03423c06aa8

8
Genre Conventions
Genre conventions include the common use of tropes, characters,
settings, or themes in a certain media. These are closely linked with how the
audience expects from the media product. They can be formal or thematic.

Activity 1
Directions: Look at the movie poster below. In your paper, answer the
questions that follow. Tabulate your answers.

1. What codes and conventions were used in these movie posters to suggest the genre of
the film? Specify which one is used for each.
2. How are the characters dressed up in the posters and their pose?
3. What color schemes (choice of color) were used up in the posters? How do you interpret
the colors found in each?
4. How are written codes used in each of these posters?

GENRE (horror, QUESTIONS:

comedy, action
MOVIE TITLE comedy, sci-fi, Codes and Character Color Schemes Written
action, Convention s dressed & Codes
inspirational or s (Question up and Interpretation (Question
family) #1) Pose (Question #3) #4)
(Question
#2)
RINGS

CENTRAL
INTELLEGENCE

MAXSTEEL

JACK
REACHER

9
 MIRACLES
FROM HEAVEN

5. How are written codes used in each of these posters?

Activity 2
Directions: Illustrate three (3) signs and symbols in your community that are used to convey
information (e.g., for directions, locations or attractions)/ Discuss briefly the meaning they convey.
In your paper, answer the questions that follow. Tabulate your answer.
Symbol Description/Meaning
1.
2.
3.

Activity 3
Directions: Create your own media and information presentation about the latest issue or news
in the society (e.g. postcard, collage, advertisement, infomercial, story). Do this in an oslo/bond
paper. Be guided by the scoring rubric below.

Component Answer
Target Audience
Sender/Author
Purpose
Key Content
Form/Style
Medium/Format

10
Reflection:
How does right knowledge in media codes and conventions helps you
interpret and disseminate information in your daily life?

Assessment:

Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer in each item. Write the
answer in your paper.

1. This kind of code is often seen on print media, especially on headlines.

a. Oral b. technical c. written
2. These are the generally accepted ways of doing things.
a. Convention b. codes c. both A & B
3. Designing messages is at risk of compromising some members of the
audience because of __________.
a. Commonality b. similarity c. diversity
4. In analyzing media messages, it is important to look at the _________
messages to fully understand its implications.
a. Direct b. immediate c. underlying
5. It should always be remembered that media is not only an information-
giving entity, but also a/an ____________which depends on capital and
profit.
a. Organization b. business c. stakeholder
References for the Learners:

Media and Information Literacy Grade 12

PIVOT IV-A Learner’s Material
Quarter 1, Version 1
First Edition, 2020

Published by: Department of Education Region IV-A CALABARZON

Regional Director: Wilfredo E. Cabral
Assistant Regional Director: Ruth L. Fuentes

Media and Information Literacy

DIWA Senior High School Series

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-NZ0UovXOBKFvHS7-mXQbIUW-_bBwCAT

11
Answer Key
Answers to Activities 1-3 vary.

Writer:

JESSICA P. TAYONG

Reviewers: DOLYNESSA J. GALEON

HUMSS 12 Group Head

AMALIA B. RINGOR
Track Head

RUTH A. CASTROMAYOR
Principal IV
Assistant Principal – SHS

ISRAEL B. REVECHE, PhD.

EPS-Values
Division SHS Coordinator

12