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Connecting the Dots
Why Transforming Media is so important to Global Transformation
One way to help transform media is to
Be The Media!
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THE MEDIA'S MESSAGES BECOME PART OF THE FABRIC OF OUR CULTURE.
With or without intentionality, the media always influences society. More
than ever, today's media are largely responsible for the establishment of
cultural norms.
Media
Literacy is a movement to promote understanding of media's messages:
- Is a particular item on TV, radio, film, internet, podcast, print publication,
billboard, clothing, or other medium news, PR, propaganda, entertainment
or advertising? Who benefits from it?
- In what ways are media's messages moving us towards a partnership
culture of peace and environmental stewardship?
- How are media's messages reinforcing the normalcy of a dominator
culture characterized by violence and war, tremendous social and economic
inequality, cutthroat competition, commodification of life and most aspects
of society, looking out for number one no matter what the consequences to
others, massive damage to our eco-systems, and extensive prison, military
and weapons proliferation.
Private ownership and consolidation of the major media influences the underlying
messages that become cultural norms. Some of these norms perpetuate
public attitudes and policies which cause much suffering in the world:
- pursuing a consumerist vision of happiness and the "American Dream"
without considering that sweatshops, rainforest destruction, big-money special
interest lobbyists, the war in Iraq, climate change, species loss, and other
crises are fueled by millions of consumers who aren't choosing sustainable,
organic, fair-trade, socially responsible products and services..
- the "common sense" of looking out for number one without concern
about the consequences for others
- the idea that we're living in a dangerous world and we should
protect ourselves at all costs
- the necessity and inevitability of corporations expanding global
markets to the developing world, despite the danger of exceeding
the carrying capacity of the planet as massive populations in China and India
begin adopting Western resource-intensive lifestyles
- there are only two sides to every issue
- politicians and others' ulterior motives for personal gain always
override societal considerations
- people never participate in collective action for the benefit of
all society, only for particular special interest groups. The small amount
of news coverage of collective action for the benefit of all society reinforces
the idea that this is unusual in our culture.
Coming soon to this webpage: Links and resources for media promoting peace
and sustainability around the world.
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