Appendix B: Understanding Mass and Mediated Communication

Becoming a More Mindful Media Consumer

Media scholars argue that the way to avoid or counteract negative media effects is by becoming media literate (Potter, 2008; Potter & Byrne, 2009). This means developing an understanding of your own media habits and critically evaluating and analyzing media sources and messages. To become media literate, you should practice the following skills.

AND YOU?

Question

Are you media literate? Do you critique what you read, hear, and watch—or is most of it just background noise to you? Do you think that the media you choose not to attend to might have some effect on you?

Are you media literate? Do you critique what you read, hear, and watch—or is most of it just background noise to you? Do you think that the media you choose not to attend to might have some effect on you?