March 10, 2014
The documentary "This is Media" was screened on March 4 at CSUN and focused on digital and media literacy, privacy on the Internet and the interrelationship between life on and off the web.
"The documentary effectively delivered an empowering message to 18-24 year-olds who are constantly connected to their digital devices. Digital and media literacy skills can help you safely and responsibly navigate the emergent participatory digital culture," said Bobbie Eisenstock, CSUN Journalism professor and media education consultant. "The message was communicated in an authentic way that underscored the importance of asking the right questions and challenging what you see, hear and read when you e-mail, text, tweet, post, pin, like, upload and download in the digital world."
The 30-minute documentary is a visual compendium of facts, warnings and information on media and privacy protection online. The film explains how media producers "create, edit, curate, include and exclude" to present a vision in order to change the way viewers think. The documentary looks into how social networking sites act as a platform for media and the credibility of user content.
After the screening, a panel discussion and Q&A was held on the importance of being media literate and applying media literacy concepts. The expert panel also discussed the application of privacy awareness and how to protect privacy.
"What is privacy? [It] probably is still the right to be left alone," said John Simpson, privacy project director for Consumer Watchdog. "...that is something that goes over into the digital world as well. There is no reason that those fundamental human rights should not be adhered to and followed in the digital space."
The panel was made up of Jaime Uzeta, senior vice president of social action at Participant Media, Tessa Jolls, president and CEO of the Center For Media Literacy, Dianah Wynter, film and TV director and professor of media theory and criticism in the Cinema Television and Arts Department at CSUN and Simpson. They dissected and explained how the Internet collects data about consumers without their knowledge, applying the core concepts of media literacy to understand media and privacy protection on the Internet.
"The Internet is like my diary except everyone can read it," said Tatiana Batmanian, a graduating senior from the Communications Department. "Learning about how to protect yourself is fundamental for your future."