MIL Dictionary
A collection of terminologies and concepts you need to know when teaching and learning about Media and Information Literacy (MIL)
Active Consumer
a person who consumes and engages with media messages to derive truthful meaning
Advertisement
creative rendering of a promotion that uses different forms of media
Alternative Media
any form of media text that contrasts and counters the popular, mainstream media
Broadcast Media
medium that transmits information via airwaves for public knowledge
Critical Media Literacy
education response that expands the notion of literacy to include different forms of mass communication, popular culture, and new technologies
Communication
meaningful exchange of information; conversation between/among individuals
Connotation
figurative or symbolic meaning of a word aside from its literal meaning
Consumerism
social and economic order that encourages the purchase of goods and services
Consumption
reception of idea or message from different forms of media
Deconstruction
process of breaking media texts to derive critical analysis of hidden messages
Denotation
literal meaning of a word
Digital Citizenship
concept of developing a person’s skills and knowledge to effectively use the Internet and other digital technology, especially in order to participate responsibly in social and civic activities
Digital Literacy
ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills
Digital Media
digitized content that can be transmitted over the Internet
Discourse
formal and intelligent written or spoken discussion
Disinformation
false information deliberately disseminated to deceive
Film
moving images or pictures
Film Literacy
ability to critically read a film’s message through both its technical and narrative aspects
Ideology
system of beliefs that guides or explains how society works; leads to social action
Information Literacy
ability to recognize when information is needed and to research, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information
Journalism
reportage of accurate and truthful current events for the public’s information
Literacy
ability to read, write, and comprehend
Mass
the public
Media
collective means of communication
Misinformation
inaccurate information disseminated to mislead
News
reportage of current events
News Literacy
acquisition of critical thinking skills for analyzing and judging the reliability and accuracy of news we consume
Passive Consumer
person who consumes media messages without much questions
Print Media
newspaper, magazine, and other media printed on paper
Passive Consumer
person who consumes media messages without much questions
Post-truth
concept in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than statements that appeal to emotion
Production
the creation of different forms of media texts
Radio
form of broadcast that only transmits sound
Representation
ways how the media portray particular peoples, experiences, or topics through lens of a particular ideology
Reproduction
disseminating and perpetuating information that has been consumed and believed
Semiotics
study of meaning-making or interpretation through language and images
Social Media
category of media where people converse, participate, engage online
Stereotype
widely held but fixed and oversimplified idea of a particular type of person or thing
Subtext
hidden, underlying message
Television
form of broadcast that transmit moving images projected on screen
Text
any form of media product
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