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Media Literacy Toolkit
The founders of the United States knew an educated public would be key to the strength of a democratic republic. The creation of the First Amendment ensured citizens would have access to the information needed to make good decisions about their representatives and policies. At Mormon Women for Ethical Government, all of our advocacy and education efforts flow from our Principles of Ethical Government, and this is also true of media literacy. These principles include the idea that, âAll individuals have a duty to educate themselves about the actions of government officials and current events in the world, taking care to ascertain facts from reliable sources of information.â Knowing where…
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Media Literacy: Ethical Coverage of Police Violence â Reporting on George Floyd and Beyond
When it comes to reporting on the police killings of and violence toward black and brown people, news coverage can provide important background and context to the national conversation, sparking a wide range of actions and reactions. But that news must adhere to certain standards in order to contribute meaningfully and minimize bias. In the Society of Professional Journalistsâ Code of Ethics, reporters and editors are urged to âboldly tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experienceâ while at the same time âavoid stereotypingâ and âexamine the ways their values and experiences may shape their reporting.â Likewise, photojournalists should, âBe complete and provide context when photographing…
