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Theory of Media Literacy
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Theory of Media Literacy
A Cognitive Approach



May 2004 | 320 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Our society has become characterized by aggressive media. Information is constantly at our fingertips – whether it be through the books, newspapers, and magazines we read, the television we watch, the radio stations to which we listen, or the computers that connect us to the world in a matter of seconds. We can try to limit our media exposure, but it is impossible to avoid all media messages. As a result, we psychologically protect ourselves by automatically processing the media to which we are exposed.  

Theory of Media Literacy: A Cognitive Approach comprehensively explains how we absorb the flood of information in our media-saturated society and examines how we often construct faulty meanings from those messages. In this book, author W. James Potter enlightens readers on the tasks of information processing. By building on a foundation of principles about how humans think, Theory of Media Literacy examines decisions about filtering messages, standard schema to match meaning, and higher level skills to construct meaning.  

A central theme of Potter's theory is the locus that governs the degree to which a person is media literate. The locus is enriched by developing skills as well as good knowledge structures on five topics: media effects, media content, media industries, real world parameters, and the self.  

Key Features
  • Presents the first social scientific theory of the process of media literacy 
  • Explores a broad range of literature on media literacy written during the past two decades 
  • Focuses on how the human mind works, especially in this mass media-saturated society 

Theory of Media Literacy is an essential resource to a wide audience within the media discipline. The book provides empirical researchers with direction to test the theory and extend our understanding of how the media affect individuals and society. Practitioners will find it helpful in developing strategies to achieve goals and, at the same time, avoid high risks of negative effects. In addition, new scholars will find it to be an excellent introduction to various media literacy research.


 
I. Background
 
Chapter 1: Why Do We Need a Theory of Media Literacy?
 
Chapter 2: Explicating the Construct of Media Literacy
 
II. Introducing the Theory
 
Chapter 3: Definitions and Distinctions
 
Chapter 4: The Media Literacy Model
 
Chapter 5: The Foundational Knowledge Structures
 
Chapter 6: The Personal Locus
 
Chapter 7: Competencies and Skills of Media Literacy
 
III. Information Processing
 
Chapter 8: The Filtering Task
 
Chapter 9: The Meaning-Matching Task
 
Chapter 10: The Meaning-Construction Task
 
Chapter 11: Traps in Meaning Construction
 
IV. Practices
 
Chapter12: Practices
 
Appendices
 
References
 
Preface
Key features
  • Media literacy is a topic of increasing interest, especially to educators. Despite that interest, there has been no single book that brings together the scattered work on media literacy, one that looks at, in Potter's words, "what we know as well as what can be done with what we know."
  • Potter is a high-profile name in this field (see bio above). His text Media Literacy has further established his reputation as an expert on this topic. Project complements an already-strong list.
  • Potter is also preparing the third edition of Media Literacy for publication in 2003. This A1 can be marketed alongside his successful text.

Select a Purchasing Option


Rent or Buy eBook
ISBN: 9781452245409

Hardcover
ISBN: 9780761929512
$151.00

Paperback
ISBN: 9780761929529
$95.00

This title is also available on SAGE Knowledge, the ultimate social sciences online library. If your library doesn’t have access, ask your librarian to start a trial.