The Media and Me: A Guide to Critical Media Literacy for Young People
by Project Censored and The Media Revolution Collective
Educators: The Teaching Guide for this publication is available here.
During the recent presidential election, “media literacy” became a buzzword that signified the threat media manipulation posed to democratic processes. Meanwhile, statistical research has shown that 8 to 18 year-olds pack more than eleven hours with some form of media into each day by “media multitasking.” Young people are not only eager and interested to learn about and discuss the realities of media ownership, production, and distribution, they also deserve to understand differential power structures in how media influences our culture.
The Media and Me provides readers with the tools and perspectives to be empowered and autonomous media users. The book explores critical inquiry skills to help young people form a multidimensional comprehension of what they read and watch, opportunities to see others like them making change, and insight into their own identity projects. By covering topics like storytelling, building arguments and recognizing fallacies, surveillance and digital gatekeeping, advertising and consumerism, and global social problems through a critical media literacy lens, this book will help students evolve from passive consumers of media to engaged critics and creators.
“The moment post-truth entered the dictionary, the need for a book like this became clear.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“The Media and Me is an engaging read, a must-have reference, and a prep course for citizen media literacy in the 21st century.”
—Heidi Boghosian, author of “I Have Nothing to Hide” and 20 Other Myths about Privacy and Surveillance
“Project Censored's decades-long efforts to promote critical media literacy are finally extending to even younger audiences—needed now more than ever!”
—Veronica Santiago Liu, Word Up Community Bookshop/Librería Comunitaria
“The Media and Me offers young people the knowledge, ideas, and skills to become media literate, expanding their vision, intellect, and identity. It’s an invaluable resource for writing young people back into the script of empowerment and democracy.”
—Henry Giroux, author of Pedagogy of Resistance: Against Manufactured Ignorance
“Timely and accessible… The Media and Me provides an up-to-date survey of how to make sense of contemporary media in language young adults will understand and appreciate.”
—Steve Macek, professor and chair, Department of Communication and Media Studies, North Central College
With decades of experience in critical media literacy, the authors include AVRAM ANDERSON, electronic resources management specialist in the University Library at California State University, Northridge; NICHOLAS BAHAM III, professor and chair of Ethnic Studies at California State University East Bay; BEN BOYINGTON, high school English teacher and media educator; ALLISON BUTLER, director of the Media Literacy Certificate Program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst; NOLAN HIGDON, professor of history and media studies, and author of The Anatomy of Fake News; KATE HORGAN, an undergraduate studying Communication and Psychology in the Commonwealth Honors College at University of Massachusetts Amherst; MICKEY HUFF, director of Project Censored, a media watchdog that promotes independent journalism, critical media literacy, and freedom of expression; REINA ROBINSON, founder of the Center for Urban Excellence, a non-profit that fosters resilience in system-involved youth; ANDY LEE ROTH, a sociologist who coordinates Project Censored’s national network of students researching important but underreported news stories; and MARIA CECILIA SOTO, an undergraduate studying Applied Linguistics and Teaching English as a Second Language at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Cover art and illustrations by PETER GLANTING, a Portland-based artist and designer.
The Media and Me is a joint production of the Censored Press and Seven Stories Press.
