Media Skills: Crash Course Media Literacy #11

Now that you have a solid understanding of the media landscape, it’s time to equip you with the essential skills for navigating it.

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Resources:

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Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?

[TheMrWreckz]

Something tells me Jay Smooth really loves the Titanic movie

[Blabla]

The problem with these five criteria (or any criteria) is that they themselves are already subject to our bias. We're much less likely to heavily scrutinize media that reaffirms what we want to believe then media that challenges it, which we put under the electron microscope.

[horizon]

I sincerely hope Media Literacy becomes a required course (or series of courses) in the public education system. As you said, as the world becomes more and more heavily reliant on digital technologies, an understanding and practical knowledge of media and the tools to navigate it will be all the more important.

[selinemaine]

The steps to evaluate accuracy, (un)bias and reliability are only the very basic ones. In reality, I think one may never know if the information is actually accurate because the source information may come from wrong analysis that takes a lot of investigation to fix, and no one can investigate every piece of information. We often have to rely on others to investigate for us but again, we can never fully trust others' work. In the same way, it is also becoming increasingly difficult to know if one is really unbiased or reliable from just reading words and looking at references. Today's skills of deception in journalism is very advanced with all of the hidden messages, SEO strategies and bribes. This is why I think we should not look at any media products as absolutely right or wrong. There's not much can be deemed right or wrong besides natural laws, anyway. So, when we consume media, whatever opinions we have, we should try to sympathize and see from others' perspectives to find a common way to benefit us all and build the world. We celebrate differences but aim for unity rather than violent imposition of beliefs.

[KarateExplodo]

Hi there! I loved this video, and want to support it by leaving a comment. However, I'm aware that Youtube's comment system is heavily skewed towards promoting conflict, as well as violent and intolerant behaviour, and I am not willing to be a target. That's why I've created this "pre-recorded" comment to leave on videos I like! I do not leave "+" comments, because it is important to me to make known that this space is damaging. I strongly encourage others to do the same if they feel targeted by Youtube's media environment. Thank you for making work that is so positive and meaningful to me!

[BrianHutzellMusic]

Let us not forget that our religious texts are also media, and that to swallow them whole uncritically is just as foolish as blindly believing that Facebook meme. We would do well do apply the same questions and critical thinking that Jay Smooth talks about to our reading of the Bible, the Koran, the Talmud, etc.

[traysexton]

This series is so consistently informative and enjoyable everyone should be watching this given how incredibly relevant this is. I love it.

[jeffbrownstain]

More people need to watch this series. This is so helpful for the chaos we live in

[jenisedai]

Checking sources is good, but sometimes check the sources of the sources. There's been a couple of times when I've checked sources and found a circle of articles that all source each other, and are all found on internet-only "news" sites.

[gagginglemer]

"It could mean deleting Twitter from your phone after realizing you're addicted to social media."
I feel personally attacked

[ereTube]

I'm glad to see this discussion being had, especially with the intention of education the public masses. I take for granted that I studied journalism, and these tenets have been second nature to me for decades. I've pondered the issue and worried about its effects with greater concern in recent years. SHARED.

[DracarmenWinterspring]

FYI the learner's permit example doesn't work everywhere outside the US. Where I live one is expected to start learning the theory before getting practical lessons, but the only requirement is to take a minimum number of practical lessons and to pass the theoretical test before you take the practical one, but it can be done in any order - e.g. you could start driving without knowing the meaning of a single road sign or marking. (But driving teachers themselves must have permits and special cars with extra gas and break pedals on the teacher's side, so the teacher can intervene in an emergency, I don't think that's a requirement in the US either. I spent my first lesson controlling nothing but the wheel, it was pretty fun).

[andreweverton]

I see the end coming and all I can say is DOOONNNN'T GO. KEEP MAKING CRASH COURSES. PLEASE, YOU ARE THE CRASHCOURSE GOAT. WE NEED YOU.

[nicholasgarcia]

This is important information. That's why I'm commenting, liking and subscribing.

[MultiSciGeek]

Just finished watching the last videos and thought caught up with this series but then you uploaded this. Great!

[davidsweeney]

I love it when we really get behind the wheel!

[normal_stacy]

Thanks for the great content c: I'm from Russia, and it's relevant af here

[kaylawest]

This episode reminds me of the girl who sent in landscape photos from Red Dead Redemption to a local news station in Oregon and they ran the photos as part of their "Out and About" segment as local scenery.

[stanj]

It's interesting that this video, just out today, specifically name drops the New York Attorney General. He resigned last night in disgrace. I wonder if they would have used the same article as an example if they knew what was going to happen.

[benshook]

Hey Crash Course, you should make a media literacy course specifically for kids