LESSON 10 THE MEDIA AND

INFORMATION LITERATE
FILIPINO
Now that you have further knowledge about media and
information—their scopes, functions, trends, and dynamics-you are now
able to utilize MIL skills in becoming a vital part of your society. 
How much does the Philippines need MIL? Almost every Filipino
consumes media and information every day, with 95 % of the
population owning mobile phones (SCMI, 2015). But are all Filipinos who
belong to this great percentage media and information literate
enough?
In Lesson 1, you were introduced to the benefits MIL brings to an
individual. But what about the benefits that it brings to an individual as a
member of society? Why is MIL significant in this sense? How can it help
a country like the Philippines reach its full development?
 MEDIA AND SOCIETY
In February 2014, the first of a two-part report about an alleged
"mysterious flesh eating" disease was  aired on a late-night newscast of
a major TV network. The report dealt with two cases of the said diseases
that were Slowly spreading" in the province  of Pangasinan. 
According to the report, doctors could not determine the cause of
patients’ ailments. Adding more "mystery" to the report, the news
anchor concluded the first part with questions that connected the
disease to a certain prophecy. 
 MEDIA AND SOCIETY

After the airing of the report, Netizens began sharing on social media skin diseases
they thought were related to the issue. Some even connected the report to a
“prophecy” in 2013 of a self-proclaimed Indian prophet, who said that a flesh-eating
disease will originate from Pangasinan and will spread around the world. This prophet
is said to have predicted that a typhoon would devastate Samar and Leyte - that
seemed to have been validated by the destruction of Typhoon Yolanda in
November 2013. With this, panic over the new "prophecy" immediately spread. 
However, the Department of Health (DOH) dismissed the accuracy of the network's
report and said that it was a hoax. They said that the patients featured in the report
did not have a mysterious disease-one had psoriasis, while the other had leprosy.
Because of this disclaimer, part two of the report was never aired. 
As erratum, the network immediately issued a public apology for the "unintended
fear and panic" the report had caused.
How can MIL affect
an individual?
Start with the disadvantages that the absence or lack of MIL
can bring to a person. In the case study given in Media and
Society, many were easily scared by the sensational news
about the spreading flesh-eating disease. However, if the
people knew the truth about the report, they would not have
been affected by the sensationalism and would have
immediately dismissed it. Also, if the news program did not
divide the report into two parts and immediately concluded it
with the truth, then mass panic would have been prevented.
• Being gullible to or easily
deceived by misinformation is
just one of the many
disadvantages brought by lack
of media and information
literacy.
• Identifying sources of
information and triangulating
their truthfulness may be
tedious, but the costs of
benefits are high.
 1. Personal Aspect
A media and information literate
individual is able to:

a. Know his/her rights to information

b. Distinguish truths from lies
c. Create decisions based on
well-evaluated information
d. Mirror the values and attitudes
represented in the media against
his/her own
e. Express his/her persona through media
content
f. Protect his/her information and privacy
 2. Professional Aspect
A media and information
literate individual is able to:

a. Use information
ethically
b. Respect both
producers and
consumers of
information
c. Adapt to the dynamics
of any medium
3. Educational Aspect
A media and information
literate individual is able to:

a. Think critically and learn

from facts
b. Proliferate information
based on credible and
factual sources
c. Utilize media in exploring
knowledge
These benefits that MIL brings are also skills that would
help an individual reach his/her full potential. A
person who can think critically, use information
ethically, and create decisions based on
well-evaluated information cannot be subdued by
the immense number of information proliferated by
different forms of media.
 What if everyone is media and
information literate?
• It does not only bring benefits
to an individual, but to the
society as a whole.
• It is essential in evaluating
one’s right to freedom of
information, expression and
communication.
• Awareness can be best
exhibited especially in serious
social concerns and times of
emergency and distress.
PLEASE ANSWER THE TASK IN
GOOGLE CLASSROOM
THANK YOU AND
GOD BLESS.