Resources for Teaching Visual Literacy As it Applies to News & Journalism
Now available:
Ethics In The Age of Digital Photography (DVD: 1 hour)
produced by the National Press Photographers Association
Description: This 60-minute DVD by John Long offers suggestions for dealing with
the
ethical implications of the electronic revolution in photojournalism. With some
examples
of digital manipulation and the problems caused by altered images, this video
touches on
the principles that support ethical decision-making.
The People's Choice: Digital Imagery and the Art
of Persuasion (lesson plans)
Note: this curriculum is once
again available.
Is Seeing Believing?
How Can You Tell What’s Real?
A Newseum curriculum about
the news, with special emphasis on photojournalism for students and teachers,
grade 7-12
"This presentation for students visiting the Newseum helps the profession
and the work of our association, and provides better understanding among all
people of the vital role news images plan in our world today."
Charles H. Cooper, Executive Director Emeritus, National Press
Photographers Association
"This curriculum package is an excellent way to introduce students and the
public to the tenets of journalism, and shows how the profession serves as an
extension of the public."
Greg Christopher, Executive Director, Society of Professional
Journalists
Frank Baker's review of
this curriculum, as published by The Center for Media Literacy:
- NEW TEACHING PACKAGE
ON PHOTOGRAPHY TACKLES ISSUES OF DIGITAL MANIPULATION
-
- Following a
recent visit to the Newseum, a wonderful new museum devoted to
journalism and news established by the Freedom Forum Foundation in
the Washington, DC area
(a must-stop on your next visit there), I discovered
an outstanding 22-minute video and teaching kit created to help
middle and high school students explore the artistic and ethical
issues involved in
"altering" photographs through digital imaging.
-
- Now "Is
Seeing Believing? How Can You Tell What's Real?" is available
to schools across the country through distribution arranged by the
Center for Media Literacy in Los Angeles. Teachers who
utilize newspapers and/or mainstream news magazines (Time, Newsweek,
etc.) in the classroom will be
especially interested in using this affordable resource.
-
- The video, a
22-minute excerpt of an hour-long PBS series entitled "Media
Matters," begins by explaining that in the traditional process
of news
photography over the decades, " the image itself was rarely
tinkered with." But
things are now different. "Today's computer technology
makes such alterations not only easy, but also undetectable. And
it's happening a lot…"
 -
- Following
several recent controversial examples -- the head of former Texas
Governor Ann Richards placed on the body of another woman sitting
astride a motorcycle;
Time magazine's darkening the cover photo of O.J. Simpson's
mugshot, and National Geographic moving the Egyptian pyramids
so that they appeared
closer together -- we hear from art designers and photographers,
news editors and photojournalists exploring whether the manipulation
was proper or warranted in each instance. Along the way students
see exactly how a computer can alter a photograph seamlessly and
perhaps most importantly, hear how even so-called experts are
wrestling with the issues involved.
-
- The large
(24x36) full-color poster included in the kit is designed so that
students examine different kinds of photos -- ads, news, fashion,
sports -- and apply what
they've learned about photo manipulation. The 18-page
teacher's guide is excellent and includes black line masters for
several follow-up
activities about media manipulation through history. I was
fascinated to learn, for example, that during the Civil War, some
photographers, not able
to alter the images they took, instead moved bodies
to improve the composition of their photos!
-
- My one
criticism of the video is the typical documentary dependence on
"expert"
voices and the absence of opinion and insight from audiences,
particularly young
people who are growing up in today's image culture. Nevertheless
I believe it is essential for students to develop critical viewing
skills for photography and this new resource is an excellent start.
|
Teacher Guide Contents
INTRODUCTION
ABOUT "Is Seeing Believing?"
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BACKGROUND FOR TEACHERS
HOW TO USE THE VIDEO
(NOTE: the video is an excerpt from the PBS series "Media Matters,"
the specific episode originally called "Moving Pictures"
see a transcript of the segment here.)
INTRODUCING THE POSTER
HOW TO USE THE POSTER PHOTOS 1-7
MORE PHOTOS TO PUZZLE OVER
TIPS FOR SAVVY NEWS CONSUMERS
STUDENT ACTIVITY ONE—IS IT NEWS?
IS IT NEWS WORKSHEET
STUDENT ACTIVITY TWO—IS THIS FOR REAL?
IS THIS FOR REAL WORKSHEET
WHERE TO FIND MORE
AFTER YOUR CLASS VISITS THE NEWSEUM
