Date of Award

2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Specialization

Communication and Leadership

School or Department

School of Leadership Studies

First Advisor

Dr. Carolyn Cunningham

Second Advisor

Dr. Kristina Morehouse

Abstract

Media has clear impacts on children and teens’ health behaviors and choices. It is imperative that youth become critical media users in order to understand how media can impact their health and to challenge influential media messages. Media literacy education is a viable option for teaching youth how to become savvy media users and media creators. Though elements of media literacy education have been incorporated into some classroom curricula, public health professionals can also serve as youth educators on media literacy. To fill this opportunity in media literacy education, a training course was developed for public health practitioners, other health professionals, teachers, and parents. Using the theory of media ecology, cultivation theory, and current research on topics of health and media, the course educates learners on media literacy basics (as related to health), creating media, and transferring media literacy education to a youth audience. The course was developed using Paolo Freire’s philosophy as a framework, thus discussion and critical thinking are key course components. The overall goal of the media literacy training course is to make public health professionals and other training attendees more critical media users and to arm them with the knowledge and skills to transfer health media literacy education to youth.

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