Media Literacy and Outreach in Ethnically Diverse High Schools

Session Submission Type: Paper Session

Abstract

The Media Literacy and Outreach panel engages the intertwined issues of media literacy and outreach by showcasing four pilot projects involving professors at three major public research universities. The projects share the goal of providing students from ethnically diverse, low-income areas with education in media production and criticism. Panelists will discuss: (1) funding resources; (2) program design; and (3) successes and concerns that have emerged during the course of their work.

Joe Cytrynbaum, now deceased, will be represented and have his work celebrated by student presenters from Umoja. Umoja is a community organization Dr. Cytrynbaum worked with to teach students media empowerment and spoken word performance. Student presenters include Aaron Johnson and Daniel McCurty. Ilana Zafran, Leadership Coordinator for Umoja student development, will also represent Dr. Cytrynbaum at NCA.

Sub Unit

• Elementary and Secondary Education Section

Chair

• Catherine Squires, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Individual Presentations

• Critically Thinking about Practical Skills: The Development of a Media Literacy Curriculum for a High School in Western Massachusetts - Mari Castaneda, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

• Muslim American Students and On-line News - Catherine Squires, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

• Digital Media in Small Learning Communities - Shayla Thiel-Stern, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

• Spoken Word Poetry and Cultural Empowerment - Joseph Cytrynbaum, Northeastern Illinois University

Session Organizer

• Catherine Squires, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities