Media's Ability to Educate Media is everywhere, and I believe that it can be used as an effective medium to educate children. I also believe, however, that oftentimes those adults in charge of programming/content direction do not consider educating youth to be their first priority. Instead, they are more concerned with showcasing programs that will sell to a wide spectrum, because this is what they believe will keep them in business--in print, on the air, etc. The content of these programs is often more in tune with sex and violence than 1,2,3's and ABC's.

Nonetheless, every once in awhile media will attempt and succeed at formidable educational programming. "Sesame Street" is an example of this. Sesame Workshop-- http://www.sesameworkshop.org/aboutus/inside_ataglance.php -- is a nonprofit educational organization that develops engaging content and "tak[es] advantage of all forms of media and [uses] those that are best suited to delivering a particular curriculum" to most efficiently reach its viewers. The content of each episode is well thought out in terms of both educational value and presentation. Due to this research and planning, children can actually be exposed to academic skills, like counting and spelling, without losing interest.

J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series also engages its young readers and can serve as a catalyst to improve reading and writing skills. By launching the online newspaper The Daily Prophet--http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/web/hogwarts/dailyprophet/index.jsp-- Rowling opened a forum for kids to view and edit other kids' creative writing. Without a teacher or parent hovering over their shoulders, they can take a shot at writing for pleasure, not a grade. They can learn how to take criticism from strangers, and what advice they will take or disregard. This form of online media is a voluntary learning tool for kids everywhere, where they can feel excited about contributing their creative works to cyberspace for other kids--and maybe even adults--to enjoy.

Over the summer, I participated in the SMU in London program. In my journalism class there, a female classmate in her early twenties stood up and shared how Harry Potter helped her overcome her severe dislike for reading. She was dyslexic and did not believe that reading could be fun until her mother gave her the first Harry Potter book while she was in middle school. She was instantly hooked, and she accredited the Harry Potter series for opening her mind to the world of pleasure reading and learning outside a classroom setting.

Media has the capability to affect young minds in a positive way. It can motivate children to want to learn and grown not only in an academic sense but in a social sense as well. For example, children watching Sesame Street may see how much fun the children on the show are having learning, singing and interacting with friends and want to do so themselves.

On the other hand, media can also be violence-concentrated and sex-driven. Children can see this on TV and computer screens and think that what they're viewing is normal or acceptable behavior when it is not. They might even try to imitate behavior they see. Some blame violent video games, television shows and movies for crises like the Columbine and Virginia Tech shootings. Parents need to spend time with their children and make an effort to screen their exposure to negative media messages to preserve a sense of right and wrong in the youth.  ¶ posted by Claire at 10:29 PM •