media matters network groups threshold2015 written by amy boone

Media MattersMedia Matters

Network GroupsNetwork GroupsThreshold Threshold

20152015Written by Amy BooneWritten by Amy Boone

Day 1 MondayDay 1 Monday

Introduction and welcome to ThresholdIntroduction and welcome to Threshold Identify 2-3 major NON-LOCAL stories in the Identify 2-3 major NON-LOCAL stories in the

Dallas Morning News, Abilene Reporter NewsDallas Morning News, Abilene Reporter News Small groups Small groups

• DMNDMN• ARNARN• social media (twitter, facebook, etc)social media (twitter, facebook, etc)• other sites (TV news stories, etc)other sites (TV news stories, etc)

Explore these questionsExplore these questions

What kind of language is used?What kind of language is used? Is it formal?Is it formal? Highly educated?Highly educated? Casual?Casual? How does it attempt to lure you into reading How does it attempt to lure you into reading

more?more?

Discussion Discussion

Write a headline as a tweet for twitter Write a headline as a tweet for twitter with the 140 characters only or one of with the 140 characters only or one of

the other sources.the other sources.

Day 2 TuesdayDay 2 Tuesday

Who are you??Who are you??• Jot down in one column words and Jot down in one column words and

phrases to describe YOUphrases to describe YOU• In a separate column, jot down words In a separate column, jot down words

and phrases that someone else would and phrases that someone else would use to describe you (may be some of the use to describe you (may be some of the same words and some different)same words and some different)

Teenager heading to a singing Teenager heading to a singing auditionaudition

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ilhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il1mVIjxzMA1mVIjxzMA

Leave a comment for her! No names, Leave a comment for her! No names, please! Be clever! Witty! Winsome!please! Be clever! Witty! Winsome!

Turn the comment inTurn the comment in

Who are you??Who are you??

Want to add your name?Want to add your name? Want to rewrite your comment?Want to rewrite your comment?

How would someone describe you How would someone describe you based on this comment you made or based on this comment you made or other things you post online? Does it other things you post online? Does it line up with your original lists?line up with your original lists?

DiscussionDiscussion

Online disinhibitionOnline disinhibition effect is a  effect is a loosening (or complete loosening (or complete abandonment) of social restrictions abandonment) of social restrictions and inhibitions that would otherwise and inhibitions that would otherwise be present in normal face-to-face be present in normal face-to-face interaction during interactions with interaction during interactions with others on the Internet.others on the Internet.

Online DisinhibitionOnline Disinhibition You don’t know me: basic anonymityYou don’t know me: basic anonymity You can’t see me: the screen is used as a You can’t see me: the screen is used as a

shield and allows people to be someone shield and allows people to be someone they aren’t in real lifethey aren’t in real life

See you later: lots of online See you later: lots of online “conversations” don’t happen in real time “conversations” don’t happen in real time so they don’t seem as personalso they don’t seem as personal

More….More….

It’s all in my head: online vitriol can It’s all in my head: online vitriol can seem cathartic and the one to whom seem cathartic and the one to whom it is spewed doesn’t seem like a real it is spewed doesn’t seem like a real person… more of an idea or conceptperson… more of an idea or concept

It’s just a game: real rules of It’s just a game: real rules of interaction don’t seem to applyinteraction don’t seem to apply

Day 3 WednesdayDay 3 Wednesday

What is bias?What is bias? What constitutes bias in media?What constitutes bias in media?

Do you notice any bias? If so, what?Do you notice any bias? If so, what?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRm_K9OpYboRm_K9OpYbo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQhMllQ-ODwv=AQhMllQ-ODw

Brainstorm current eventsBrainstorm current events

NewsNews SportsSports EntertainmentEntertainment

What are the various “sides” on What are the various “sides” on these different current event stories? these different current event stories? How might these sides be biased in How might these sides be biased in their reporting?their reporting?

Unbiased journalism!!!Unbiased journalism!!!

You can do it!You can do it!

Share stories and peer feedbackShare stories and peer feedback

Does the story give more than one Does the story give more than one viewpoint?viewpoint?

Is there information that could be left out?Is there information that could be left out? Is it free of emotionally charged Is it free of emotionally charged

words/phrases or identifying a group words/phrases or identifying a group mentality (working class, unwed mothers, mentality (working class, unwed mothers, teenage drivers, etc)?teenage drivers, etc)?

Did the story avoid extremes (worst/best, Did the story avoid extremes (worst/best, highest/lowest…)?highest/lowest…)?

Day 4 ThursdayDay 4 Thursday

Write down a Write down a characteristic/personality trait of characteristic/personality trait of each of the following people:each of the following people:

Halo EffectHalo Effect

Why did you assign certain character Why did you assign certain character traits to the various people?traits to the various people?

The halo effect is a type of cognitive The halo effect is a type of cognitive bias in which our overall impression bias in which our overall impression of a person influences how we feel of a person influences how we feel and think about his or her character.and think about his or her character.

This kind of stereotyping sets people This kind of stereotyping sets people up for automatic success or failure. up for automatic success or failure.

StereotypingStereotyping

How would halo effect and How would halo effect and stereotyping be alike and/or stereotyping be alike and/or different?different?

Identifying stereotypes Identifying stereotypes • Walk around the room Walk around the room • Use dry erase markers to write around Use dry erase markers to write around

the pictures.the pictures.• What stereotypes do you notice?What stereotypes do you notice?

DiscussionDiscussion

Have you ever been stereotyped? Have you ever been stereotyped? How did that feel?How did that feel?

Have you ever noticed stereotypes in Have you ever noticed stereotypes in media before? If so, when and what? media before? If so, when and what?

Have you ever watched someone Have you ever watched someone else treated a certain way due to a else treated a certain way due to a stereotype? How did that look? How stereotype? How did that look? How did that person feel?did that person feel?

New thinking…..New thinking…..

What steps can we take to help us What steps can we take to help us see real people and people in media see real people and people in media through the most fair and realistic through the most fair and realistic lens possible?lens possible?

Come up with 3-4 steps as a groupCome up with 3-4 steps as a group 1. ???1. ??? 2. ???2. ??? 3. ???3. ???

Day 5 Monday Day 5 Monday

Introduction and welcome to ThresholdIntroduction and welcome to Threshold

ActivityActivity

Make up a pretend twitter name that Make up a pretend twitter name that NO ONE would recognize (be clever!)NO ONE would recognize (be clever!)

Create a response tweet (140 Create a response tweet (140 characters) to the following tweet characters) to the following tweet and be as creative, clever, witty, and and be as creative, clever, witty, and winsome as possible!winsome as possible!

omg! I did it! I h8 u @baseballkiller! omg! I did it! I h8 u @baseballkiller! U said green would luk bad but ha! I U said green would luk bad but ha! I luk awsome!luk awsome!

Turn in tweetTurn in tweet Mark “likes” with check marksMark “likes” with check marks

Words…. MATTERWords…. MATTER

Once something is said… in person Once something is said… in person or ONLINE… it cannot be “unsaid!”or ONLINE… it cannot be “unsaid!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXIBjpjbKtQDXIBjpjbKtQ

DiscussionDiscussion

Does posting something online give a Does posting something online give a false sense of security?false sense of security?

Are we as careful with our online Are we as careful with our online words as our words to someone’s words as our words to someone’s face?face?

Can we ever really get the Can we ever really get the “toothpaste” back in the tube?“toothpaste” back in the tube?

Day 6 TuesdayDay 6 Tuesday

What questions do you ask yourself What questions do you ask yourself when consuming media (watching when consuming media (watching TV, videos, listening to music, TV, videos, listening to music, searching the internet, social searching the internet, social media)?media)?

Five Critical QuestionsFive Critical Questions

Who is the author and what is the Who is the author and what is the purpose?purpose?

What techniques are used to attract and What techniques are used to attract and hold my attention?hold my attention?

How might different people understand How might different people understand this message?this message?

What lifestyles, values, and points of view What lifestyles, values, and points of view are represented?are represented?

What was left out?What was left out?

Digital and Media LiteracyDigital and Media Literacy Renee Hobbs Renee Hobbs

Why the questions?Why the questions?Social media is proven to:Social media is proven to:

Be addictiveBe addictive Makes us compare our lives with othersMakes us compare our lives with others Makes us restlessMakes us restless Give rise to cyberbullyingGive rise to cyberbullying Glamorizes risky behaviorsGlamorizes risky behaviors Can make us unhappyCan make us unhappy Can make us fear being left outCan make us fear being left out

Active vs. Passive Media Active vs. Passive Media ConsumptionConsumption

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjwvJ9E7nIQhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjwvJ9E7nIQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-P0Hs0ADJYhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-P0Hs0ADJY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0aOsLZT8Whttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0aOsLZT8W88

https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MdNe8FHZrsv=3MdNe8FHZrs

What if we only are passive What if we only are passive consumers? consumers?

What IS there?What IS there? What is NOT there?What is NOT there? What is not even real?What is not even real?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46UYhCn0jf46U

Day 7 WednesdayDay 7 Wednesday

Draw your picture based on your Draw your picture based on your prompt… no talking!!!prompt… no talking!!!

Find your group!Find your group!

PerspectivePerspective

How did you find your group?How did you find your group? Everyone drew a frog….Everyone drew a frog…. Did you intentionally leave out Did you intentionally leave out

important details?important details?

Big story of the weekBig story of the week

Who are the “characters” in this Who are the “characters” in this story?story?

What different perspectives would What different perspectives would they have?they have?

Think back on the questions from Think back on the questions from yesterday and how those play into yesterday and how those play into the perspectives in this story…the perspectives in this story…

Who is the author and what is the Who is the author and what is the purpose?purpose?

What techniques are used to attract and What techniques are used to attract and hold my attention?hold my attention?

How might different people understand How might different people understand this message?this message?

What lifestyles, values, and points of view What lifestyles, values, and points of view are represented?are represented?

What was left out?What was left out?

DiscussionDiscussion

Why is it important to recognize that Why is it important to recognize that various perspectives will result in various perspectives will result in unconscious bias?unconscious bias?

Day 8 ThursdayDay 8 Thursday

Who are these celebrities?Who are these celebrities?

Duran DuranDuran Duran are an English pop/rock  are an English pop/rock band formed in band formed in BirminghamBirmingham in 1978. They  in 1978. They were a successful band of the 1980s and a were a successful band of the 1980s and a leading band in the leading band in the MTVMTV-driven "-driven "Second British InvasionSecond British Invasion" of the United " of the United States. Since the 1980s, they have placed States. Since the 1980s, they have placed 14 14 singlessingles in the Top 10 of the  in the Top 10 of the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart and 21 in the  and 21 in the BillboardBillboard Hot 100 Hot 100, and according to , and according to Sunday MercurySunday Mercury, they have sold more than , they have sold more than 120 million records120 million records

Sigourney WeaverSigourney Weaver is an American actress and film  is an American actress and film producer. Following her film debut as a minor character in producer. Following her film debut as a minor character in Annie HallAnnie Hall, she quickly came to prominence in 1979 with , she quickly came to prominence in 1979 with her first lead role as her first lead role as Ellen RipleyEllen Ripley in  in AlienAlien, subsequently , subsequently reprising the role in its three sequels: reprising the role in its three sequels: AliensAliens (1986), for  (1986), for which she was nominated for an which she was nominated for an Academy AwardAcademy Award  Best ActressBest Actress; ; Alien 3Alien 3 (1992), and  (1992), and Alien: ResurrectionAlien: Resurrection (1997). (1997).

Weaver is also known for her starring roles in the box-office Weaver is also known for her starring roles in the box-office hits hits GhostbustersGhostbusters (1984),  (1984), Ghostbusters IIGhostbusters II (1989), and  (1989), and AvatarAvatar (2009). A seven-time  (2009). A seven-time Golden Globe Golden Globe AwardAwardnominee, nominee, she won both she won both Best Actress in DramaBest Actress in Drama and  and Best Supporting ActressBest Supporting Actress for her work in the 1988  for her work in the 1988 films films Gorillas in the MistGorillas in the Mist and  and Working GirlWorking Girl, becoming the , becoming the first person ever to have won two acting Golden Globes in first person ever to have won two acting Golden Globes in the same yearthe same year

John Ritter was an American actor, John Ritter was an American actor, comedian, and voice actor. Ritter comedian, and voice actor. Ritter was best known for playing Jack was best known for playing Jack Tripper on the hit ABC sitcom Tripper on the hit ABC sitcom Three's Three's CompanyCompany, for which he won , for which he won an Emmy and a Golden Globe an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award in 1984. Award in 1984.

Where are they now?Where are they now?

Does anyone know where these once Does anyone know where these once very famous celebrities are now? very famous celebrities are now? What are they doing? What are they doing?

Does this say anything about Does this say anything about celebrity culture?celebrity culture?

Celebrity “Who Am I?”Celebrity “Who Am I?”

Write down 2-3 current celebrities on slips Write down 2-3 current celebrities on slips of paper and add to pile.of paper and add to pile.

Class will be split into two teams.Class will be split into two teams. One person at a time will draw a celebrity One person at a time will draw a celebrity

from the pile and try to get his/her team to from the pile and try to get his/her team to guess the celebrity in TEN SECONDS guess the celebrity in TEN SECONDS without saying the celebrity’s name.without saying the celebrity’s name.

If the team guesses correctly, that team If the team guesses correctly, that team gets one point. If not, it’s the other team’s gets one point. If not, it’s the other team’s turn.turn.

What does fame even mean?What does fame even mean?

Unknown “has beens” from years Unknown “has beens” from years past?past?

Current celebrities who we only know Current celebrities who we only know from their talents, not from who they from their talents, not from who they are as people?are as people?

Do we see them as people or as an Do we see them as people or as an idea? Do we actually “know” them?idea? Do we actually “know” them?

What if we applied the questions about What if we applied the questions about media messages to celebrities?media messages to celebrities?

Who is the author and what is the Who is the author and what is the purpose?purpose?

What techniques are used to attract and What techniques are used to attract and hold my attention?hold my attention?

How might different people understand How might different people understand this message?this message?

What lifestyles, values, and points of view What lifestyles, values, and points of view are represented?are represented?

What was left out?What was left out?

DiscussionDiscussion

Who is a celebrity for whom you have Who is a celebrity for whom you have respect because of his or her values, respect because of his or her values, message(s), lifestyle, point of view, message(s), lifestyle, point of view, personal characteristic(s), etc.?personal characteristic(s), etc.?

Why?Why? Why are we drawn to celebrities who Why are we drawn to celebrities who

do not hold our values, point of view, do not hold our values, point of view, or lifestyle that we find important?or lifestyle that we find important?