April 10, 2024
Learning Advertising Literacy for Healthier Foods
Michelle Nelson, professor and head of the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising, and Marisa Peacock, lecturer in advertising, gave community students an understanding of the purpose and fun one can have with advertising. They were introduced to Advertising literacy through discussions and activities, and created an ad promoting healthy food products. Read the full article here.
Jan 09, 2024
Teaching Political Advertising Literacy
ICR student Kirby Cook and Professor Michelle Nelson presented research about political advertising literacy at the College Convention 2024 in New Hampshire. They were the invited plenary speakers for an interactive talk entitled “Critical Eyes, Deceptive Lies: Political Advertising and You,” presenting political advertising literacy research to high school and college students. Learn more here.
Oct 11, 2023
Emerson College professor Paul Mihailidis visits Media Literacy and Education class
Paul Mihailidis, Professor of Journalism and Special Advisor to the Provost at Emerson College, visited the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for a conversation with students about digital culture and civic engagement. He delivered a public seminar on Wednesday, Oct. 11, in Gregory Hall, titled “Media Literacy and Public Engagement: Restoring Civic Health in a Culture of Distance.” Mihailidis also participated in the Topics in Media Literacy and Education class. His talk addressed how modern technologies have created a distance culture in everyday life, disconnecting people from their communities, relationships, and civic responsibilities.
Aug 21, 2023
Topics in Media Literacy and Education course
In the Fall of 2023, the IMEDIA team co-taught “Topics in Media Literacy and Education,” a course addressing the opportunities and challenges involved in teaching media literacy. The 17 students comprised undergraduates and graduate students from the colleges of Media and Education.
The faculty instructors, as well as a host of excellent guest speakers, covered topics including techniques and tools for evaluating media in the classroom and community; media literacy for producers and consumers; navigating social media; critical thinking and media; and media literacy, health, and wellness. This was the first of what we hope will be many opportunities to offer a wide-ranging curriculum related to media literacy.
July 5, 2023
College of Media Report: IMEDIA Hosts Show & Tell Workshop on Teaching Media Literacy
The Initiative for Media Education Inquiry and Action (IMEDIA) hosted a workshop for high school teachers in Summer 2023 to share experiences and challenges teaching media literacy, to gain some new resources and information to share in the classroom, and to network with fellow Illinois educators interested in media literacy. The keynote speaker addressed implications of ChatGPT for teaching.
March 9, 2023
IMEDIA team announces new interdisciplinary courses at the University of Illinois for Fall 2023
IMEDIA team member and journalism professor Stephanie Craft, will teach Topics in Media Literacy Education to help prepare undergraduate and graduate students explore the opportunities and challenges involved in teaching media literacy. See the course listing here.
August 5, 2022
Helping Students Be Wise Consumers of Media
Twenty-one Illinois public school educators learned how to incorporate media literacy into their curricula this summer through an IMEDIA media literacy workshop on campus, hosted by faculty from the College of Media and College of Education. Read the full article here.
October 9, 2022
Illinois News Broadcasters Association names Michael Spikes as Illinoisan of the Year 2022
IMEDIA team member Michael Spikes was named Illinoisan of the Year 2022 by Illinois News Broadcasters Association for his work with the Illinois Media Literacy Coalition. Learn more about the Illinois Media Literacy Coalition here.
March 28, 2022
In Case You Missed It: Media Literacy 101
IMEDIA team member Michael Spikes featured in NPR piece. Read more here.
February 3, 2022
College of Education and College of Media team up to help Illinois high schoolers understand the media they consume
As the first state in the nation to mandate that media literacy be taught in public high schools, members of the College of Education & College of Media team up to help Illinois high schoolers understand the media they consume. See the full article from the College of Media here.