Media literacy is a characteristic that is very important to have in the mediated world of today. To be media literate is to be able to analyze the media that you are using and to be capable of identifying it's motive, purpose, idea etc.
There are many reasons why it is important to be media literate. One of these reasons is simply, so that you know not to believe everything you see, read and listen to. Much of what we see on the news and read in news papers is formulated by government and organization public relations representatives and may not always be the truth. If we are media literate we can easily see what is true and what should be questioned.
In the same way, advertisers tell you what is 'in' and what you 'need' for school or to be successful. Not all of these things are necessary. Understanding the motives of commercial advertising helps us to identify what is, so that we aren't just buying everything they tell us to.
Being media literate in our day and age is just as important as being print literate. In order to get many jobs and into many school programs, it is necessary to have a background and understanding of computers, the Internet and many other technologies. This is why it is becoming so common for teachers to put more of an emphasis on technology in the classroom.
Because we are now existing in an almost completely mediated environment it is essential that we understand media so that we can learn from and enjoy it to it's fullest potential.
Works Cited
Kipping, Pat. Masterman, Len. Tyner Kathleen. Blake, Dan. Baron, Maureen. (well-known media educators), “Why Teach Media Literacy?”, Media Awareness Network, 2008, Available: http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/teachers/media_literacy/why_teach_media_liter.cfm
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