What was your perception of media before this lesson? What is your view of media now
Before my first class in Media and Information Literacy, I viewed media as the use of modern-day communication like Televisions, Radios, and the Internet that are only bounded by news related topics. After my class in MIL that was when I learned about what media really is. Media is basically the means or channel that is used to send a message. The kind of content that the media platform contains can widely vary from informational data, casual conversations, and even entertainment.
So, the actual definition of media really differs a lot from my original thoughts about it. It doesn’t only consist of modern-day communication like Televisions, Radios, and the Internet, but it also includes the use of paper platforms like books, or even through oral means. And the content that these media platforms carry isn’t only restricted to news related topics, but it could also vary from entertaining content, educational content, casual or formal conversations, and many more.
What is the most relevant function of media to you? Why?
People have different reasons or purposes of why they use media. Personally, the two most relevant functions of media to me are as a source of information, and also a means of entertainment. Just by reading educational books or reading online articles, I use media as a means to learn or obtain new information. As for entertainment, I spend time browsing over social media platforms like 9gag or YouTube just for the sole purpose of entertainment.
Can you recall a situation wherein media and information literacy could have been useful?
I recall the times when I was still doing my research during my junior high school years. Doing research requires you to look over and study past studies and present data. Having to look for information either through books or websites and evaluating if the information given is essential to your research is an application of Media and Information Literacy. Another thing to consider in research is the reliability and validity of the information you have gathered. The ability and the capability to identify whether the information source is reliable or not is another application of Media and Information Literacy.
Raphael Garcia 