MIL Module 3
MIL Module 3
Media and
Information Literacy
Quarter 3 – Module 3: Languages and
Policies in Media and Information
INTRODUCTORY MESSAGE
In the preliminary modules, you have understood that while messages are conveyed
based on how their senders package them, the end meaning would still fall upon how the
receiver interprets such a message. One message sent to different people may have
varying meanings to each one as well, but there are also some messages that the people,
although different in perspective, interpret such in the same way. This complex construct of
meaning-making can be understood by looking into the language of media and information.
Every day, you are bombarded with countless information, content, and media
messages which you are compelled to interpret and give meaning to. Today, in the
Information Age, you are able to acquire, use, and share information from various
sources. However, the extent of this freedom to consume and share information has
its own legal and ethical boundaries, limits that you as a media and information producer
and the consumer must be aware of. This module will help you learn these aspects –
how audiences interpret the meaning of media messages through the presence of genres,
codes, and conventions and the legal and ethical policies that govern you as a media
consumer in using and sharing data and information you obtain.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
For the learners: For the teacher:
To be guided in achieving the To facilitate and ensure the students’
objectives of this module, do the learning from this module, you are
following: encouraged to do the following:
1. Read and follow instructions 1. Clearly communicate learning
carefully. competencies and objectives
2. Answer the pretest before 2. Motivate through applications
going through the lessons. and connections to real life.
3. Take note and record points 3. Give applications of the theory
for clarification. 4. Discuss worked-out examples
4. Compare your answers 5. Give time for hands-on
against the key to answers unguided classroom work and
found at the end of the discovery
module. 6. Use formative assessment to
5. Do the activities and fully give feedback
understand each lesson. 7. Introduce extensions or
6. Answer the self-check to generalizations of concepts
monitor what you learned in 8. Engage in reflection questions
each lesson. 9. Encourage analysis through
7. Answer the posttest after you higher order thinking prompts
have gone over all the 10. Provide alternative formats for
lessons. student work
Lesson
Media and Information
7 Languages
‘The medium is the message, ‘now a famous quote was written by Marshall McLuhan
in 1964. By which the medium may be affected how messages are received,
the users’/audiences’ own background/experience may have also affected the interpretation
of messages. An important first step in becoming media and information literate is to
understand how information, ideas, and meaning are communicated through and by various
media and other information providers, such as libraries, archives, museums, and the
Internet. Each medium has its own ‘language’ or ‘grammar’ that works to convey meaning in
a unique way.
‘Language,’ in this sense, means the technical and symbolic ingredients or codes
and conventions that media and information professionals may select and use in an
effort to
communicate ideas, information, and knowledge.
What I Know
Pretest
Answer the following as directed. Strictly no erasures. Write only the letter of your choice.
In this lesson, we engaged with the thought that media messages are constructed.
We have established that the meaning is something that comes out as an interaction
between the message sent and its receiver, both of which are surrounded by a context that
bears on how the process of reading and receiving the encoded message is decoded.
GENRE – It is a French word which means “kind” or “class.” The original Latin
word is “genus” and means a class of things that can be broken down into subcategories. It
tends to be understood to constitute particular conventions of contents and to follow a
distinctive style in terms of form and presentation.
The primary genres that media creators and producers invoke are the
following: entertainment, news, information, education, and advertising. These
sample of the subcategory of some of the given primary genre
1. News. These are stories that have critical importance to community and national
life. News stories are also told following the basic structure of beginning, middle, and
end. Journalists, people trained to report the news to an audience, are expected to be
objective, comprehensive, and bias-free. They work for newspapers, radio stations,
televisions, and lately, online or web-based news services.
Major Division for News stories: Hard or straight news; Feature, Soft News,
Investigative
News, Opinion
2. Entertainment. It is derived from the French word “entretenir,” which means “to hold the
attention, keep busy, or amused.
CODES – These are a system of signs that, when put together, create meaning.
Type of Codes
1. Technical Codes
The way in which equipment is used to tell the story (camera techniques, framing,
depth of fields, lighting and etc.)
Camera Techniques
Extreme Wide
Shot off, e.g., a large crow or a view of the
Shot scenery as far horizon.
Medium Close-
Shows a subject down to his or her chest
up with space above to his or her head.
Close- up
A full screenshot of a subject face
2. Symbolic Codes
It shows what is beneath the surface of what we see (objects, setting,
body language, clothing, color, etc.)
e
x
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n
3. Written
Codes
These are the formal written language used in a media product. It can be used
to advance a narrative, communicate information about a character or issues and
themes. It
includes printed language, which is the text you can see within the frame and
how it is presented, and also spoken language, which includes dialogue and song
lyrics.
CONVENTIONS – These are the accepted ways of using media codes. These are
closely connected to the audience’s expectations of a media product.
Types of
Conventions
1. Form conventions. These are certain ways we expect types of media’s codes
to be arranged. For instance, an audience expects to have a title of the film at the
beginning and then credits at the end. Newspapers will have a masthead, the most
important news on the front page and sports news on the back page. Video games
usually start with a tutorial to explain the mechanics of how the game works.
2. Story Conventions. These are common narrative structures and understandings that
are common in storytelling media products.
Examples of story conventions include:
✓ Narrative structures
✓ Cause and effect
✓ Character construction
✓ Point of View
3. Genre Conventions. It points to the common use of tropes, characters,
settings, or themes in a particular type of medium. Genre conventions are closely linked
with audience expectations. Genre conventions can be formal or thematic.
Today the capacities of the human mind aided by technology enable the process
of construction of media and information messages. The media employ more than
words to construct a more complex society. Film and broadcast communication use the
language of the camera, the tools, and techniques of editing and the power of words – as
dialogue and narration – to capture the world of a story, deliberately making choices on
what not to include, what to highlight, and what should serve as a backdrop. It is very
important to keep in mind: every media, every media form or, media text whether it
is a printed advertisement prominently lining on the streets we pass through to the
television we watch every day.
Output No. 12
Application
Assessment
Posttest
MULTIPLE CHOICE. Encircle the letter of your choice. Be wary of options; choose only the
best. ONLY THE BEST. You will get wronged and hurt if you choose the wrong ones. It is
only your conscious choice that will dictate your fate. May God be with you!
7. What shot would be used to establish the full costume of a character in TV drama?
A. Establishing shot C. Close up
B. Long shot D. Extreme close up
9.
A. True
B. False
11. A master shot is when you can see all the action taking place in one shot
A. True
B. False
A. True
B. False
16. The purpose of an “over the shoulder” or “point of view” shot is to show the audience how
that character views the situation so that they have empathy with the
character. In this shot, the audience feels helpless and compelled to
do something to help the woman.
A. True
B. False
18. The establishing shot is also known as a wide-angled shot because the film-makers use
a wide-angle lens to fit as much scenery as possible
into the shot. It also has the effect of showing the
audience the characters against the setting.
A. True
B. False
19. What type of shot shows a subject down to his or her waist, e.g., showing head and
shoulders and is also known as a mid- shot?
A. Long shot
B. Medium shot
C. Low angled shot
D. Over the shoulder shot
20. This includes the ways in which equipment is used to tell the story (camera techniques,
framing, depth of fields, lighting and etc.)
A. Technical Codes
B. Symbolic Codes
C. Written Codes
Lesson
8
Legal and Ethical Issues in
Media and Information
Have you ever shared an inspiring photo or quote on Facebook? Or Instagrammed a
meme you found online? A lot of what we consider everyday media culture is built on this
kind of casual information and content sharing. However, in those moments, did you ever
think about where that content came from or if you were even allowed to use it? What
happens when what you are sharing is someone else’s property? Or could it harm
somebody?
The media and information age, especially the Internet, gave tons of people access
to tools for communication and media creation but also opened up many legal loopholes and
ethical challenges. Given its widespread use and the vast majority who now have access to
an array of information, media and information have been the subject of legal, ethical, and
societal problems. While its positive implications are undeniable, there are issues that come
along with it.
What I Know
Pretest
Let’s see how much you already know before we tackle the next lesson.
Write the letter of your choice on a separate sheet of paper.
1. The writer provides inaccurate information regarding the sources, making it
impossible to find them.
A. The Misinformer C. The Perfect Crime
B. The Resourceful Citer D. The Self-Stealer
3. The writer properly cites all sources, paraphrasing and using quotations appropriately
A. The Misinformer C. The Perfect Crime
B. The Resourceful Citer D. The Self-Stealer
4. The writer properly quotes and cites sources in some places, but goes on to
paraphrase other arguments from those sources without citation.
A. The Misinformer C. The Perfect Crime
B. The Resourceful Citer D. The Self-Stealer
6. The writer takes the time to paraphrase most of the paper from other sources
and makeit all fit together
A. The Ghost Writer C.The Potluck Paper
B. The Photocopy D. The Labor of Laziness
7. The writer copies from several different sources, tweaking the sentences to
make them fit together while retaining most of the original phrasing.
A. The Ghost Writer C.The Potluck Paper
B. The Photocopy D. The Labor of Laziness
8. The writer copies significant portions of text straight from a single source,
without alteration
A. The Ghost Writer C.The Potluck Paper
B. The Photocopy D. The Labor of Laziness
9. A legal device that gives the creator of a literary, artistic, musical, or other
creative work the sole right to publish and sell that work
A. Cyberbullying C. Patent
B. Fair Use D. Copyright
10. This means you can use copyrighted materials without a license only for certain
purposes.
A. Cyberbullying C. Patent
B. Fair Use D. Copyright
What’s In
Review
In the previous lesson, you have learned that meanings are produced through the
use of codes and conventions and that media carry these meanings along with the
messages or information they relay. All the codes, conventions, and languages are tools
forunderstanding and interpreting media contents or messages, tools that are essential in
creating a sound and valid content analysis. With numerous information that is available
today, being able to sensibly understand media content would provide media
consumers with more effective ways of selecting and utilizing informatio
What is It
Discussion
Intellectual Property
Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary
and artistic works designs and symbols, names, and images used in commerce
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is an act or instance of using or closely imitating the language and thoughts of
another author without authorization, the representation of that author’s work as one’s own,
as by not crediting the original author.
Types of Plagiarism
1. The Ghost Writer -The writer turns in another’s work, word-for-word, as his
or her own.
2. The Photocopy- The writer copies significant portions of text straight from
asingle source, without alteration.
3. The Potluck Paper- The writer copies from different sources and altersthe
sentences to make them fit together while retaining most of the original
phrasing.
4. The Poor Disguise- The writer has altered the paper’s appearance slightly
by changing keywords and phrases.
5. The Labor of Laziness - The writer takes the time to paraphrase most
of the paper from other sources and make it all fit together.
6. The Self-Stealer- The writer “borrows” generously from his or her previous work.
1. The Forgotten Footnote - The writer mentions an author’s name for a source, but
neglects to include specific information on the location of the material referenced.
2. The Misinformer - The writer provides inaccurate information regarding
the sources, making it impossible to find them.
3. The Too-Perfect Paraphrase - The writer properly cites a source but neglects to
put in quotation marks on a text that has been copied word-for-word, or close to it.
4. The Resourceful Citer- The writer properly cites all sources, paraphrasing, and
using quotations appropriately. The catch? The paper contains almost no original
work!
5. The Perfect Crime- The writer properly quotes and cites sources in some places,
but goes on to paraphrase other arguments from those sources without citation.
Fair Use
Fair use means you can use copyrighted materials without a license only for certain
purposes. These include:
1. Commentary
2. Criticism
3. Reporting
4. Research
5. Teaching
Remember the human – remember that the receiver on the other side of your
computer or phone is another human person capable of understanding, feeling, and getting
hurt. Putting yourself in others’ places can put everything in the right perspective. Before you
send that message, upload that photo, or send that tweet, ask yourself: How would the other
person or people at the end of the line, feel if I do or say this? Always put in mind that
empathy is one of the most powerful motivations for some basic decency online.
Rule 2: Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real
life
Good netiquette is derived from the same standards set in real life. While it can be
argued that standards of behavior may be different in the virtual world, they certainly should
not be any lower. In real life, we are constantly reminded to be respectful to other people,
mindful of our words, follow the law and other societal rules. This holds true for cyberspace
etiquette as well. Further, actions have consequences. Whatever is deemed illegal or
irresponsible in real life is most probably deemed the same in the online world. While the
chances of getting caught or punished may be slim, your accountability and liability for your
actions aren’t totally erased. Thus, you should do your best to act within the laws and ethical
standards in the online environment just as you would in real life.
On the other hand, the word “bandwidth” is sometimes used synonymously with time,
but it’s really a different thing. Bandwidth is the information-carrying capacity of the wires and
channels that connect everyone in cyberspace (Shea, 1997). However, these
bandwidths have a limit as to the amount of data it can carry at a given moment. All those
unnecessary data uploaded in cyberspace is taking up space in the bandwidth that could’ve
been reserved for more valuable data.
Remember, do not feed the flames; extinguish them by guiding the discussion back to
a more productive direction. Furthermore, opinions are always welcomed to be voiced out,
but at the end of the day, parties may just agree to disagree and end a conversation in a
decent way.
Wherever you are in the online world, you may be exposed to some private or
personal information that needs to be handled with care. Ask yourself: What do you think
would happen if this information “got into the wrong hands?” Embarrassment? Hurt feelings?
Loss of a job? Just as you expect others to respect your privacy, so should you respect the
privacy of others as well.
Moreover, always choose your battles wisely. Not every mistake or opposing opinion
you see on the Internet needs your reaction. Do not sweat over the small stuff or things that
do not have much weight and just let it slide. Conversely, learn to admit your mistakes as
well should there be instances when you commit one. No one is perfect, and neither are you.
So practice changing your opinion when presented with facts and learn to acknowledge
your errors or inaccuracies.
Alternatively, you can follow the THINK acronym to guide you on how you behave
and interact on the Internet or on social media. This applies to everyday
communication, too, whether you’re talking to work colleagues, family, or friends.
THINK
T – Is it true?
• Is this fact, or is it really an opinion or feeling?
• Know and be clear before you speak
H – Is it helpful?
• Will it just aggravate the situation if you do talk about it or post a rant about it?
• Does it help you, them, or the situation?
I – Is it inspiring?
• Will people be in awe after reading your status?
N – Is it necessary?
• There are things that are better left unsaid.
• Some people are making their social media account as daily/ routinely diaries
K – Is it kind?
• What is your motivation for communicating?
Digital Divide
Digital Divide is inequality or disparity between demographic groups in terms
of access to, use of, or knowledge of ICT. Different segments have varying levels of
knowledge and access to digital developments due to a number of factors which include, but
not limited to, race, age, education, income, socioeconomic status, and geographical
location. The digital divide may further be grouped into three divisions, as relayed by The
Manila Times writer Noemi Lardizabal-Dado (2019):
There may have been a time in your life when your parents or elder relatives asked
you to teach them what to click on their mobile phones or how to navigate through
the Internet. That is an example of a digital divide between digital natives and digital
immigrants. This divide doesn’t necessarily mean that the elderly do not have access per se,
but some are simply not comfortable with the use of digital devices and the Internet.
However, this does not hold true to some as there are digital immigrants who
accepted the advent of technology and sought to learn to adapt to the digital age.
The digital rich and the digitally poor
A huge part of the digital divide, especially in developing countries such as the
Philippines, is the differences in the socioeconomic status of social groups. The financial
capacity of an individual affects his ability to purchase a gadget and reliable Internet access.
Smartphones are getting more affordable, but stable Internet access is still a work in progress
(Dado, 2019). Technology has made numerous positive implications in education, healthcare,
transportation, and many more. Learning materials and resources may now be conveniently
accessed online, and technology has also paved the way for advancements in medicine and
healthcare, transportation is now made more convenient and comfortable. While many are able
to enjoy and adapt to all these developments, sadly, a lot more are struggling to keep up. Day by
day, as we face a world of inequality and injustice, this gap widens even more.
On a more personal level, you may have known a student who has struggled to do
homework or submit a project because it involves a certain device or it needs an Internet
connection. Perhaps a friend? A classmate? A neighbor? Or that someone may even be
you.
Access to all the Internet and all these technological advancements is a privilege; not
all are able to afford it. In a country like the Philippines, where a huge chunk of our
population falls below the poverty line, acquiring digital devices, let alone securing a stable
Internet connection, is at the bottom of the list of priorities.
Internet addiction may come in different forms, such as social media addiction, video
game addiction, cybersex or online sex addiction, and online gambling
addiction. Undeniably, the Internet has introduced to society a whole new human
experience. Aside from its educational and informational functions, the Web has offered
media users a higher and more enjoyable level of recreation with all the games, social
media, and even online shopping, which, in effect, makes users more glued to their
devices. Moreover, thanks to smartphones and mobile internet data services, people
can now access these almost anytime, anywhere! More and more individuals are
now developing a heightened dependence with these evolving technologies, some at a
manageable level, but others at an alarming degree opening the possibility of having their
devices and the Internet interfere with their daily activities.
Internet addiction may be developed due to several factors like stress, anxiety,
depression, other forms of addiction, lack of social support, or lack of parental guidance, or
inactivity. These are some of the signs and symptoms of Internet addiction you may want to
be mindful of:
• Being less conscious of time spent online or with gadgets that enable Internet access
• Failing to complete tasks or activities intended to be finished at the time you were
using the Internet
• Having less time with friends and family
• Lack of remorse for your excessive Internet use
• Feeling more excited with Internet activities rather than real-life or physical activities.
Cyberbullying
In 2012, a certain college student gained infamy after a video of her allegedly
shouting at a female security guard at LRT-2 Santolan went viral. She was subjected to
severe ridicule, hateful messages, and even threats, and because of the abuse she was
getting on media, she deactivated all her social media accounts and even refused to leave
her home. In 2013, a 12- year-old Fil-Am student from New York took her own life after she
was bullied due to a video uploaded on YouTube, where she was shown arguing with
another classmate. In
2017, a Grade 8 student from Ramon Torres National High School (RTNHS) in
Negros
Occidental ended his own life because of cyberbullying after being bullied and sent
disturbing messages accusing him of stealing his classmate’s computer tablet.
1.
2.
Output No. 14
Source: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Law_at_ESA/Intellectual_Property_Rights/What_is_intellectual_property
Guide questions:
1. What issues do you see in the poster?
2. What possible dangers and issues in the picture?
3. Which of these issues have happened to you or to your friends? Why did
they happen?
Output 14.b Looking for Violations
Explain what each photo represents and what rule of netiquette is violated.
Explain how the issues implied in these photos affect media consumers like you. Write
your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
1.
Source: https://medium.com/@firdausbakharia_67166/netiquette-online-manners-e122223d0505
2.
Source: https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/education/should-the-definition-of-bullying-include-
cyberbullying/article_1276accf-7740-5d64-ac6f-40778961ab91.html
3.
Source: https://virtuallybadges.weebly.com/station-5-netiquette.html
4.
Source: https://www.slideshare.net/BlackOps2/what-is-plagiarism-copyrighting-and-netiquette
Assessment
Posttest
I. MULTIPLE CHOICE. Identify the correct answer to the following questions. Write the
letter of your choice in the space before the number.
1. This is an act or instance of using or closely imitating the language and thoughts of
another author without authorization
a. Intellectual Property c. Plagiarism
b. Copyright d. Fair Use
3. Fair use means you can use copyrighted materials without a license only for
certain purposes. These reasons include all choices EXCEPT:
a. Reporting c. Research
b. Scamming d. Teaching
4. This is a type of plagiarism where the writer copies from several different
sources, tweaking the sentences to make them fit together while retaining most of
the original phrasing.
c. The Ghost Writer c. The Perfect Crime
d. The Misinformer d. The Potluck Paper
5. This is a type of plagiarism where the writer properly quotes and cites sources in some
places, but goes on to paraphrase other arguments from those sources without citation.
a. The Ghost Writer c. The Perfect Crime
b. The Misinformer d. The Potluck Paper
6. This refers to having the appropriate knowledge and skills to effectively use
digital technologies to communicate with others, participate in society, and create and
consume digital content.
a. Netiquette c. Digital Citizenship
b. Netizenship d. Media consumerism
7. This is what people do when they express a strongly held opinion on the Internet without
holding back any emotion
a. Flaming c. Arguing
b. Talking d. Discussing
10. All of these choices are factors contributing to Internet addiction, EXCEPT:
a. Depression c. Social belongingness
b. Anxiety d. Lack of parental guidance
II. Read each scenario below and identify if the situation manifests good or bad
netiquette. Write G for good netiquette and B for bad netiquette.