High Schoolers, Meet Media Literacy

High school students today are no longer insulated from the vicissitudes of messaging/counter messaging in today’s always available, always blaring media (coming into their cars, homes, and ears through ever-more personal devices), including the cross-accusations of “fake news” that leave true seekers of information spinning in circles. Young people are no longer “future consumers,” as products they are not even old enough to buy are pitched to them, while groups with political agendas seek to make future voters already on their “team” before they first step into a voting booth. Fortunately, there is now a call for empowering teens with the knowledge and skills to decode such messaging so that they are no longer passive receptacles of messaging, but active participants in their own media processing. This is the field of media literacy.

In a world where we're all at risk of drowning in media messages, how can students keep their heads above water--and understand how they're being nudged and manipulated, often to their financial detriment? Jim Wasserman's fine new book gives you the ideas and the tools to help high schoolers decode the messages they're bombarded with, and turn them into media-savvy citizens., Wasserman’s guide is an indispensable tool for modern high schools. Students today are ever more bombarded by the influence of media as a form of truth. Yet educators have precious little resources to address this problem. Every department of your school would benefit from these resources. Each chapter begins with an approachable hook, lucidly outlines the scholarship, and then details classroom-ready strategies. Wasserman’s gift is a combination of the scholars understanding of media literacy with the classroom teacher’s humor, approachability, and practical application. I could easily see a stand-alone course or robust, individual lesson plans for our History or English departments. Your students will benefit from this resource and have fun learning about this exciting and relevant topic.

Jim Wasserman, a former business litigation attorney, has spent the last 25 years teaching media literacy, economics, government and history. He currently resides in Granada, Spain with his wife and entourage of sycophantic cats.