Media+Literacy+Curriculum,+PBS+NewsHour

=PBS NewsHour Extra Develops Media Literacy Curriculum=

April 6, 2012

Arlington, VA—Today’s students are surrounded by so many different sources of information and media, that it can overwhelming. As part of its ongoing efforts to promote student journalism and civic engagement, PBS NewsHour Extra is pleased to announce its newly updated media literacy curriculum. The curriculum is designed to help students critically evaluate media and information in its broadest sense; everything from text messages, television commercials, movies, citizen journalism, reality shows, and more traditional forms of journalism.

This curriculum is part of the of PBS NewsHour Extra’s Student Reporting Labs, a public media journalism initiative for middle and high school age students that is built on the premise that informed and engaged young people are critical for a healthy democracy. This project connects high school students to local PBS stations and news professionals in their community to produce original, student- generated news video reports. The young people who participate in the project learn how to report, problem-solve, synthesize information and investigate important topics: journalism as a form of learning.

To facilitate its use in the classroom, the media literacy curriculum is designed to be as flexible as possible while also meeting the strict requirements of national education standards.

With our partners at the Media Education Lab at Temple University as well as media professionals and academics, we’ve developed three flexible units with a total of 10 lesson plans focusing on strengthening digital and news literacy competencies. These flexible lessons can be used in the context of courses in English, social studies, or video production and includes critical thinking, analysis and production activities. Each lesson is designed for a 50-minute class with engaging high-interest activities to nurture a sense of purpose and accomplishment. The curriculum can easily be adapted to the McRel Standards , Common Core Standards and ISTE Standards. The program also includes a meaningful focus on understanding the role of journalism in society and developing broader communication skills, including listening, asking questions, public speaking, and finding and evaluating the quality of information.

For 36 years, millions of Americans and citizens of the world have turned to MacNeil/Lehrer Productions for the solid, reliable reporting that has made the PBS NewsHour one of the most trusted news programs in television. The Student Reporting Labs connect students with a network of public broadcasting mentors, an innovative journalism curriculum and an online collaborative

space to develop digital media, critical thinking and communication skills while producing original news reports for PBS NewsHour Extra.

=About PBS NewsHour Extra=

NewsHour Extra uses the resources of the PBS NewsHour to provide teachers and students with quality educational resources based on current issues and events—all for FREE at www.pbs.org/newshour/extra. The PBS NewsHour is seen five nights a week on more than 315 PBS stations across the country (check local listings) and is also available online, via public radio in select markets and via podcast. The program is produced by MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, in association with WETA Washington, DC, and THIRTEEN in New York. Corporate funding for The NewsHour is currently provided by Chevron and Intel, with major funding from the Atlantic Philanthropies, the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and public television viewers.

=Contact:=

Imani M. Cheers, Ph.D., 703-998-2182, icheers@newshour.org