Media Ecology:
media literacy education materials for parents, families and children

Welcome to an exclusive service of MediaLiteracy.com -- links to free downloadable media literacy fact sheets, discussion guides and other materials, organized by subject category.

Most downloads are easy-to-print PDF files which require the free Adobe Reader software to open. Download Adobe Reader here.

“Media ecology looks into the matter of how media of communication affect human perception, understanding, feeling, and value; and how our interaction with media facilitates or impedes our chances of survival.” Neil Postman

available from the Center for a Commercial-Free Childhood:

• Sexualizing Childhood
• The Commercialization of Toys & Play
• Materialism, and Family Stress

available from Common Sense Media
This site has hundreds of articles, many accompanied by a printable PDF handout, with great advice for parents. As of May 2010, they offer 27 articles on social networking and virtual worlds, 21 articles on advertising and consumerism, 27 articles on celebrities and stereotypes, and much more.

available from the Media Education Foundation

• 10 Reasons Why Media Education Matters Poster (8″x11)
  
• What Are You Missing? Poster (8.5″x11″)
• What Are You Missing? Poster (11″x17″)
• War Games: Thinking Critically About Video Games That Play at War
• Media Violence and Children: Statistics
• How to be a Critical Media Viewer

Site of the Week Archive:
4+ years of
media literacy education-related sites