MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY

LESSON 7: UNIVERSITY OF MAKATI

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN MEDIA AND HIGHER SCHOOL NG UMAK
INFORMATION LITERACY

Time Started : ___________

Time Ended : ___________

At the end of this lesson, the students are expected to:

1. distinguish the opportunities and challenges of media literacy to the economy, education, Social
Media, and politics;
2. list and examine the possible threats, challenges, or risks of internet use and where they are most
likely to occur; and
3. create a mind map and conduct an oral presentation showcasing students' knowledge on using the
Internet more responsibly.

Observe the following advertisements above. Have you encountered these before? What can you say
about these?
Taking part in the information society is essential for citizens
of all age groups. The Internet provides great opportunities to
improve life for all users. It has positive effects on education, the
working world and economic growth. With easy digitalization and
storage of information, and accessibility through a wide range of
devices, the Internet has enormously increased the information
resources available to people. Children and young people are
often well acquainted with its applications and can benefit from its
use tremendously, but they are also vulnerable. Risks and threats
accompany this positive development, often in parallel to those that already exist in the offline world.
 Opportunities and Challenges in MIL

Media Literacy and the Economy

The economics of media can be explained in the simple equation Ratings = Revenues.
As a commercial industry, the media earns profit through advertisement. Advertisers pay
for airtime or ad-space in media platforms to reach or to promote their goods or services
to the media's audience. Advertisers are more likely to invest if there is a high volume of
consumers patronizing the media programs or content or if their target market is among
those consumers.

RATINGS REVENUES

Is a colloquial term for audience The business dictionary defines

measurement that influence timing,
placements, and markets for media
content and advertising (Balnaves,
O’Regan, & Goldsmith, 2011).
Ratings determine the number of
people who watches, listens to, or
reads a particular content.
revenue as income generated from
the sale of goods or services, or any
other use of capital or assets,
associated with the main operations
of an organization before any costs
or expenses are deducted.

A good number of citizens has turned into the digital platform such as online selling, online
payments, and online shopping. Due to this shift to a digital platform, a rise on the media use on promoting
more e-commerce and revenue opportunities started to emerge in all channels and networks. Face-to-face
banking systems also shifted to online payment and cash transfer methods catering to the needs and
opportunities in the e-commerce industry.

OPPORTUNITY
The Philippine media is a great asset in the country’s economy. In fact, the Philippines
Star reported that in the year 2010 alone, the creative or copyright-based industries
contributed P661.23 billion to the Philippines economy.

ABM & LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT

 Opportunities and Challenges in MIL

CHALLENGES
Despite thriving as an industry, the media remains vulnerable to economic threats. The
most notorious among them is privacy. Privacy is defined as the unauthorized use of
another’s production, invention, or conception especially in infringement of copyright
by the Merriam Webster’s Dictionary.

MEDIA AND INFORMATION FOR EDUCATION

Media and information have made a radical impact in education. Learning has never
been easier and at the same time more complicated than it is today in the age of
media and information. Empowering people through media and information literacy is
an important prerequisite for promoting equal access to information and knowledge
and fostering free, independent, and pluralistic media and information systems. the
current digital age, combined with the crisis of people staying at home and working
from a distance and consuming news and information via digital platforms, has
created an even greater need for connectivity, networking, and interdependence
(UNESCO, 2020).

OPPORTUNITY

Today, education has taken whole new meaning with media and information. Online education is
now a fast-becoming trend in society. Everyone with access to the internet need not physically
attend a class to get an education. With media and information, one can earn a degree from the
comfort of their homes.
Media information makes the traditional education process a little less rigorous through content
contribution. By allowing people to share their knowledge online for others to see, the network of
experts can check and balance each other’s understanding of subjects, therefore refining learning
through interaction. The convenience, abundance, and interconnection, aspects of media and
information for education are opportunities worth taking advantage of.

CHALLENGES
In education, the opportunities brought about by media and information is also to be blamed for its
many challenges. Not only does this promote laziness, constant access also puts a lot of pressure on
servers, requiring constant upgrades and regular maintenance around cyberspace.
The overwhelming amount of content to be found online requires the tedious process of sorting
through unnecessary or unrelated content to one’s research. As challenging as it may be, it is
necessary. Allowing anyone with access to the internet to contribute to the network of information
raises credibility and authenticity issues. The existence of cheap or even free digital technologies
like torrent downloading makes piracy even more attractive to consumers.

ABM & LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT

 Opportunities and Challenges in MIL

MEDIA AND INFORMATION FOR SOCIAL MEDIA AND SOCIAL SCIENCE

The society is heavily influenced by media and information. It is no surprise then that media and
information have been linked to social changes. Oxford bibliographies referred to the social change as a
significant alteration of social structure. Social media has also contributed to these social changes.
Websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and other social networking sites have allowed a
greater network of global communication.

OPPORTUNITY

Among the first to realize the possible positive applications of the media and society’s co-
dependent relationships were Daniel Lerner and Wilbur Schramm. In their perspective
works, The Passing of Traditional Society (1958) and Mass Media and National
Development (1964) served as the founding texts of development communication according
to University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). Development communication uses communication to
aid in the development of society. One practical application of this is community-based
media programs. Through information dissemination, promotion of development advocacies,
and providing a medium for social interaction among communities, these types of programs
pave the way for a positive social change.

CHALLENGES

Media and information have the power to sway society’s beliefs and perception.
People have the tendency to receive data from the media and accept it as fact right
away without conducting due diligence.

EFFECT OF MEDIA IN POLITICS

Politics regulates the media industry. They enforce the rules and regulations governing the media industry
as prescribed in a country's current political system. It is for this reason that the nature of media varies
from country to country.

OPPORTUNITY

The interrelationship between media and politics provides a fair foundation in nth function
of media as a source of information. Provisions in the law like the Freedom of Information
Bill which mandates the release of public documents to those who require it benefits the
media in their access to information and the government in its war against corruption (The
Official Gazette).

ABM & LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT

 Opportunities and Challenges in MIL

CHALLENGES

As a developing country, the government concentrates on solving problems like poverty,

unemployment, lack of proper healthcare, and access to education. The shortage of government
funding, not to mention the lack of projects and programs, that help cultivate creativity – which is
the core of media – prevent the media industry in reaching its potential for success. Even the weak
enforcement of certain laws to protecting the media exposes them to threats that could have
damaging repercussions on the industry.

MEDIA CONTROVERSIES
It is no doubt that media has opened several opportunities to everyone. Albeit, this has also become an
opening to various controversies that is continuously a challenge in the ear of Media and Information
Literacy. These controversies include:

Stereotyping: Stereotyping is the process of labeling an entire group

according to the characteristics of some. The media have been found guilty
of stereotyping multiple times. As a form of communication that deals with
the public, it is not hard to see why the media is prone to generalization.
Although there is a noticeable improvement in the number of stereotypes in
the media, the following remain controversial.

Gender Roles: The alpha-male or the depiction of the heterosexual male as

superior to the other gender is still ever-present in most media content. It
seems that countless protests from feminist movements and the LGBT
(Lesbian, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders) community have done little to
eradicate the media's sexist element.

Racial Discrimination: While many people get accustomed to a highly

digitalized daily routine, various forms of racism burgeon in online spaces. They
often take shape in disinformation and hate speech targeting diverse population
segments. The root causes are intricate. Whereas the lack of critical thinking
about information, media content, and purposeful use of technology as a crucial
factor is evident.

Conflict of Interest: Journalism professor Adam Peneberg (2007) defined conflict

of interest as situations in which competing professional, personal and/or financial
obligations or interests compete with the journalist's responsibility to his outlet and
audience.

Accountability: Bernard (2000), author of Media Ethics and Accountability Systems, explained that a
person in the media is accountable to one's self, towards peers, towards sources, towards people involved

ABM & LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT

 Opportunities and Challenges in MIL

in the news, towards media users, and towards the community where they operate. Media accountability
involves self-regulation by remembering and respecting those to who they are accountable in their work.

Censorship: Philip Steele (1999) defines censorship as any attempt to limit or prevent the free exchange
of information. It suppresses information, ideas, or artistic expression. The State University of Oklahoma
enumerated the following as forms of censorship:

• Preventive – exercised before the expression is made public. Examples of these include
government restrains, licensing, and self-censorship.
• Punitive – exercised after the expression is made public. This type of censorship is penalizing in
nature.
• Taboo – censorship of that which society deems inappropriate or offensive.

Choose among the additional challenges and opportunities of Media and Information Literacy
below. Create a mind map demonstrating the grounds, background, limitations, possible solutions, and
suggestions surrounding the chosen topic. The mind map may be drawn and written on a Cartolina, manila
paper, or presentation software. Discuss the answers as a group and prepare to present the mind map to
the class.

Suggested Topics
Age-appropriate content Inappropriate advertising
Illegal Content Privacy
Lack of Verification of
E-commerce
Content
Enticement of harm Freedom of speech
Infringement of human right
Online trading
/ defamation

Rubrics for Oral Presentation

Criteria 5 4 3 2 1
Student
demonstrates full Student is Students has Student does not
Subject Student is at ease
knowledge (more uncomfortable with little grasp on have grasp of
with expected
Knowledge than required) by information and the information information;
answers to all
during Online answering all class
questions, but fails
can answer only and can answer student cannot
Presentation questions with rudimentary little to no answer questions
to elaborate.
explanations and questions. questions. about subject.
elaboration.
Student uses a clear Student's voice is Student's voice is Student is Student mumbles,
Elocution voice and correct, clear. Student low. Student difficult to hear incorrectly

ABM & LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT

 Opportunities and Challenges in MIL

precise pronounces most incorrectly and incorrectly pronounces terms,

pronunciation of words correctly. pronounces terms. pronounces and speaks too
terms so that all Most audience Audience members terms. quietly for
audience members members can hear have difficulty students in the
can hear presentation. hearing back of class to
presentation. presentation. hear.

Rubrics for Mind Map

Criteria 5 4 3 2 1
Mind map does not
Mind map Mind map
The mind map Mind map has an consistently follow
partially follows another
includes the inconsistent format any format or is
Content follows the format, such as
MAJOR points of and is difficult to chaotic and
branch or hook bubbles, circles,
the material. understand. difficult to
format. boxes, lines, etc.
understand.
The mind map
The mind map The mind map
presents only The mind map The mind map
misses some misses most
Verbosity one word or presents only minor presents no major
major points of major points of
name per branch points. points.
the material. the material.
or hook.
The mind map
radiates from
the center of the The mind map The mind map The mind map The mind map
page. Ideas presents presents multiple presents similar presents multiple
Radiance branch out from multiple words words or names words or names on words or names on
other ideas in a or names on on many most or all most or all
logical and some branches. branches. branches. branches.
organized
manner.
The mind map
radiates from a
The mind map The mind map The mind map
central point.
radiates from a radiates from a does not radiate
The mind map less ideas
central point. central point. from a central
includes at least branch out of
Some ideas Few ideas point. No ideas
relevant 6 other ideas; all
branch out of branch out of branch out of
Illustrations illustrations. The branches are a
other ideas; other ideas; other ideas; all
illustrations make single line
some branches most branches branches are a
the mind map extending from
are a single line are a single line single line
memorable. the center.
extending from extending from extending from
OR: The mind map
the center. the center. the center.
does not radiate
from a central
point.

ABM & LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT

 Opportunities and Challenges in MIL

Johnson, P. (2020, November 26). How a Digital Economy Can Save The Philippines from Recession. The
Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2020/11/how-a-digital-economy-can-save-the-philippines-from-
recession/

UNESCO. (2020, March 7). Placing Media and Information Literacy at The Heart of Education. UNESCO Cluster
Office for the Caribbean. https://en.unesco.org/news/placing-media-and-information-literacy-heart-
education-2

One News. (2020, October 22). Add To Cart: Filipino Online Shopping Grows By 57 Percent, Highest in
Southeast Asia, E-Commerce Group Finds. Philippine Star One News. https://www.onenews.ph/add-to-
cart-filipino-online-shopping-grows-by-57-percent-highest-in-southeast-asia-e-commerce-group-finds

UNESCO. (2020, December 6). Media and Information Literacy Against Racial Discrimination: Experts from
United Arab Emirates and Nigeria speak. UNESCO Interviews. https://en.unesco.org/news/media-and-
information-literacy-against-racial-discrimination-experts-united-arab-emirates-and

United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. (n.d.). Module 7: Internet Opportunities and Challenges. Media and
Information Literacy for Teachers. http://unesco.mil-for-teachers.unaoc.org/modules/module-7/

@E-Learning Guide in Media and Information Literacy. (n.d.). The Opportunities, Challenges, and Power of
Media and Information. E-Learning Guide on Media and Information Literacy.
https://sites.google.com/view/elearningmil/lessons/the-opportunities-challenges-and-power-of-media-
and-information?authuser=0

College of Education. (n.d.) Rubrics for Oral Presentation and Mind Map. NC State University.
https://ced.ncsu.edu/rub.pres.html

Images are from Canva

ABM & LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT