Initiated in 2012, UNESCO’s Media and Information Literacy Week aims to promote media and information literacy for all people. The event is being commemorated globally from 24 – 31 October this year.

The Australian Media Literacy Alliance (AMLA) defines media literacy as ‘the ability to critically engage with media in all aspects of life.’ This includes critical reflection on the various media we use and circulate to others, but also understanding how and why media are made, and possible impacts on audiences and wider society. In the Australian Curriculum, students progressively build these media literacy skills partly by exploring the key concepts of Media Arts: languages, technologies, institutions, audiences and representations. 

To celebrate 2022 Media Literacy Week, the ACTF and ACMI Education are presenting a free virtual workshop examining representations in children’s television. Through short clips, advice from industry experts and interactive tasks, Year 5 and 6 students will learn how representations of people, places and ideas are intentionally constructed for the screen. They will consider the influence of representations on audiences, why media representations have changed over time, and learn practical tips for crafting representations in their own media making.

While there is a growing number of quality resources centred on news media – exploring bias, spin, checking sources, fake news, and more – our session aims to develop students’ understandings of entertainment media. Acknowledging the significant role that television plays in shaping children’s understanding of themselves and the world around them, the workshop will equip and encourage students to ask critical questions about television production and viewing.   

Event Details

Date: Friday 28 October

Time: 12:15pm – 1:00pm (AEDT)

Audience: Years 5 and 6

Australian Curriculum: Investigate and devise representations of people in their community, including themselves, through settings, ideas and story structure in images, sounds and text (ACAMAM062)

Register here.

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