Dear Friends,  
So much has happened since our last newsletter.
We are growing rapidly. We have added six steering committee members, more than doubling our size. Another organization has joined us, and we now have almost 100 individual members. Go to the website to see who is new. www.massmedialiteracyconsortium.com

If you would like to be listed on the website as a member, please let us know. Just reply to this email.

Statewide meeting
At our statewide meeting in March we launched several initiatives, including research projects and video production. If you are interested in getting involved, please call Erin McNeill at 617 395-4222 or reply to this email.

Legislative Outreach Campaign
We have launched a three-phase legislative outreach campaign, and we need your help. We want all of the legislators on Beacon Hill to hear from at least one constituent about the Media Literacy bill.  

Please go to the website MassMediaLiteracyConsortium.com
for sample letters and scripts.

We are on Social Media
Please like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to help spread the word, and stay up to date with the latest.

Presentations
MMLC members have presented at several conferences in the last few months. If you would like us to speak to your group, let us know.

Bill Status
The Massachusetts Media Literacy Consortium (MMLC) advocates the passage of Senate Bill 1956, which will bring comprehensive media literacy education to K through 12 classrooms and help youth:

* Understand how media shapes our society

* Recognize the media's persuasive power

* Develop critical thinking skills and apply them to "deconstructing" media messaging

* Create and distribute positive media

 We are building the movement in order to move the bill in the next legislative session. The Education Committee has decided not to act in this session, which ends in July. We will spend the time to more fully develop the case for the legislation. Senator Katherine Clark has confirmed that she will reintroduce the bill at the beginning of the next session, in January.

Thank you for standing with us as we work to enact change to benefit all children in Massachusetts. And please pass this newsletter along to others.

Sincerely, The MMLC Steering Committee

_ Dear Friends of Media Literacy,

Legislation that would implement the teaching of Media Literacy in schools is quickly gaining supporters across the state.

The bill is S1956, and it is intended to ensure that students develop the independent thinking and critical analysis skills needed to navigate the messages of a media-saturated world.

We had a very successful and well-attended hearing before the Joint Committee on Education on November 1 at the State House. The Massachusetts Media Literacy Consortium gathered 11 people to testify in support of the bill. Many others sent written testimony. The senators and representatives on the panel showed keen interest in the testimony, which explained the problems with exploitive media, and how Media Literacy education in grades K through 12 can help children to interpret media messages and to find and create positive messages that can educate and inspire students at all age levels. The hearing received coverage from the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald and Fox 25. Our next step is to move the bill out of committee and to the floor.

Today, we are asking you to become a member of the consortium. To get the bill passed, we must show legislators that people throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts recognize the urgent need for Media Literacy education for our children. Please go to our new website and sign up now to demonstrate your support.http://www.massmedialiteracyconsortium.com/get-involved.html

Join these supporting organizations and individuals:

Center on Media and Child Health at Children’s Hospital Boston

The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood

Media Education Foundation

Massachusetts Parent-Teacher Association

Massachusetts Teachers Association

Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Children’s Entertainment

GRLZRadio.org

Media Educators of America

Press Pass TV

Jean Kilbourne, Ed.D., Filmmaker, “Killing Us Softly,” series, and author, “So Sexy So Soon”        

Diane E. Levin, Ph.D. Professor, author, “So Sexy So Soon”

Sharon Maxwell, Ph.D. Clinical psychologist, author, “The Talk”



 

Sincerely,



The Massachusetts Media Literacy Consortium steering committee:
Lexi Ladd                             lexi@ladd-luth.com
Erin McNeill                       emcn17@gmail.com
Dianna Morton                 dianna487@comcast.net
Tom Reid                             tom.reid@comcast.net

_
Dear Friends of Media Literacy Education:

Exciting news! A bill that would direct the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to implement media literacy education in public schools has been introduced in the Senate and is now scheduled for a hearing on Nov. 1.

We have formed the Massachusetts Media Literacy Consortium to advocate for the bill.

You can find the bill text here:

http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/Senate/S01956

Here is a media literacy Fact Sheet with more information about the problem and the benefits of media literacy.

We need your help. It is important that we demonstrate to the committee that there is a lot of support for media literacy education for our children, to the benefit of all of us.

We are asking that you write to the committee to let them know that you support the goals of this bill – to ensure that all students are able to critically analyze advertising and other media messages. Hard copy letters are best, but email is good too. The more letters the committee receives, the better to demonstrate the wide base of support for the goals of this legislation.

Also, if possible, attend the hearing, and consider giving testimony. Anyone who signs up just before the hearing will be given three minutes to speak.

Committee addresses:

Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz

State House

Room 413C

Boston, MA 02133

Phone: 617-722-1673

Fax: 617-722-1079

Email: Sonia.Chang-Diaz@masenate.gov

 

 

Rep Alice Hanlon Peisch

State House

Room 473G

Boston, MA 02133

Phone: 617-722-2070

Email: Alice.Peisch@mahouse.gov

 

 

If you write, please send a copy to the legislative director for Senator Katherine Clark, the sponsor of the bill. Her address is: Kristen.Cullen@masenate.gov

Also, if possible, let one of us know if you are writing or attending.

We welcome members. If you would like to join the consortium please get in contact with one of us. And please forward this newsletter to anyone else you think might be interested.

 

Signed:

Massachusetts Media Literacy Consortium

Lexi Ladd                     lexi@ladd-luth.com

Erin McNeill                emcn17@gmail.com

Dianna Morton           Dianna487@comcast.net

Karen Duff                   KDuff@belmont.k12.ma.us