Hard look at media

Children are constantly inundated by the media, yet often do not know how to deconstruct the information provided by television programs, news, commercials and news articles.

A movement is taking place in Canada to curb this dilemma, as more and more teachers implement media studies into their curriculum.

Students are taught to think critically, question the motives of programmers or advertisers and understand generally how the media work to influence consumers.

"The rest of their lives will be spent absorbed by the mass media," said Susan Kusturin, the media teacher at Toronto's Rosedale Heights Secondary school. "If they don't learn to understand the media in school where will they learn it? I haven't used math in years, but I watch TV every night."

Advertisers in particular have reason to sway or influence viewers, often spending millions of dollars researching tactics and techniques that aid in increasing sales. Students need to disassociate themselves with the hold some advertisers can have over young people and learn how to create their own notions of what is fashionable or cool.

Until objective journalism returns, and the media adhere to the facts instead of profits, readers and viewers need to be taught at a young age how to use tools to understand the motives behind the media.