Poster Session (Asynchronous - Online Only)
Featured Dissecting the Roles of the Media for Effective Global Transition: An Adoptable Framework for Media Inclusion in Development View Digital Media
Poster Session Essien Essien, Bibiana Ineji
Communication is imperative to the attainment of the much desired global goals and appropriate communication itself, effectively defines the strategies adoptable towards the actualization of the goals. Mass media are the veritable means through which effective communication is achieved, thus, the exclusion of the roles of the media in development leads to the bereavement of functional communication. With the rise in the technological advancement and improvement in media technologies, more persons are reached at less costs and at a relatively affordable time span. Such advancement has also adversely led to the proliferations of dysfunctional platforms where ill information and distorted contents are raised thereby leading to the retardation of the wheels of development. Considering the Sub-Saharan Africa with particular emphasis on Nigeria as the research interest area, this study identifies that a good percentage of the population here are most vulnerable to such misleading platforms and by this, an invaluable reason why development is yet to be attained in these areas of the globe. The study points out several factors that contribute to the Sub-Saharan vulnerability these which includes technological inadequacies, information imbalance, among others, thereby plunging the residents here into untoward agitations, undirected investments, the result of this which is increased poverty. Rhetorically, can the mass media in the face of this mishap be re-utilized again towards the correction of these abnomalies? To answer this question, this research herein dissects the roles of the media in response to effective global transition.
Student Journalism: The Importance of Transferable Skills that Improve Media Literacy and Critical Thinking View Digital Media
Poster Session Naomi Kooker, Jacob Pardo
Today’s rapidly changing media landscape has led to a new post-truth era, defined by social media disinformation, biased reporting, astroturfing, and accusations of “fake news.” At the same time, we have seen a reduction in journalism jobs and an increase of skepticism towards mainstream media. In such a landscape, it is imperative to present students with a fact-based, reasoned approach to media literacy, imparting the skills necessary to identify and interpret credible information. This paper takes a pedagogical approach, exploring the role of student journalism education and experience in teaching critical thinking and media literacy skills. This research focuses on skills of student journalists, such as determining bias in media, identifying credible information, and interpreting such information in one’s own words, identifying key areas for improving students’ media literacy. At the same time, we explore the impact of student journalism education on students’ current careers, identifying the transferrable communications skills learned through student journalism experience. Through this research, we hope to make recommendations for institutions and educators to push for further journalism education for students, such as through General Education, internships, or student-run newspapers. By pushing for increased student journalism experience, institutions can improve students’ critical thinking, media literacy, and communication skills, leaving them better prepared for both the current media landscape and for their future careers. This new, truth-seeking generation would be well equipped for identifying facts in a post-truth era.
