History of Media Literacy in the USA – Decade by Decade

While not an exhaustive survey, these historical papers, original source documents, conference reports, articles and reflections trace influences on the growth of media literacy in the USA. Even before the term "media literacy" was coined, pioneering teachers and thinkers were making important connections that would prepare the way for a new vision of literacy for the 21st century.

Pre-1960: Early visionaries prepare the way

• Marshall McLuhan - And the Revolution is...Media!

• John Culkin, SJ: The Man Who Invented Media Literacy

1960 – 1970: First experiments with media in schools

• Foreword to The Children of Telstar by Eric Barnouw

• The First Elementary School TV Production Studio

• Ford Foundation funds experimental high school TV program

• Iowa Educators Pioneer Media Now Curriculum
  
  

1970 – 1980: Early programs paved the way but U.S. wasn't ready

• The Rise and Fall of "Screen Education"

• Church groups introduce Television Awareness Training for parents and adults

• "What is Critical Viewing?: Introduction to Television Literacy Module 1

• "Obstacles to the Development of Media Education in the U.S." by Robert Kubey, PhD

1977 – 1993: For 16 yeasr, Media&Values Magazine chronicled the growing influence of media culture and published early activities for the media literacy classroom

• First issue predicts classroom revolution: I Hate It, but I Love It: Television and Listerine

• Media critic Howard Rosenberg: Media&Values Quarterly Corners Common Sense

• Issue #35 introduces first early outline for analyzing the media: Blueprint for Response-Ability

• Five Important Ideas to Teach Your Children about TV

• Annual Issue Celebrates 15 Years of Cutting Edge TV Criticism
  
  

1980 – 1990: Meanwhile, outside the US, the field was flourishing

• The Challenge of Media Education (The UNESCO "Grunwald Document")

• Media Education: 18 Basic Principles - by Len Masterman*

• Ministry of Education* of Ontario, Canada publishes the Media Literacy Resource Guide including 8 Key Concepts of Media Literacy

• Group Media movement introduces media education experiment in developing world

• Foundation report outlines What Other Countries are Doing in Media Education

• New Directions in Media Education - UNESCO Conference in Toulouse, France clarifies pedagogy and establishes four criteria for success in implementing media education in any country.

* These documents are among the work that provided the foundation for AMLA's Core Principles of Media Literacy Education.

1990 – 1995: The call for media literacy gathers steam. Pioneering projects build leadership; curriculum connections and teacher education create momentum

• Media Literacy for the '90s - U.S. Style reviews state of U.S. media education movement

• National Council of Teachers of English Commission recommends media education

• Aspen Institute hosts historic gathering to set agenda for the decade / Aspen Media Literacy Leadership Conference Report

• Catholic Communications Campaign funds publication of Catholic Connections to Media Literacy for schools and parishes
  
  
• "Skills and Strategies for Media Education" published by Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)

• Harvard hosts first Media Literacy Institutes

• Safeguarding our Youth Conference links media literacy to violence prevention efforts and calls for "interagency, interdisciplinary" approach by federal government

• U.S. Senate invites testimony for media literacy as strategy for violence prevention
  
  

1995 – 2000: Collaborative efforts, publishing and national conferences provide momentum for the movement and opportunities for professional growth.  See also Conferences & Events

• First National Media Literacy Conference / Boone, NC

• Second National Media Literacy Conference / Los Angeles

• Carnegie Endorses Media Literacy for Young Adolescents

• Partnership for Media Education forms alliance to organize National Media Education Conferences: Colorado Springs / 1998; St. Paul / 1999; Toronto

2000 – : New professional organization and expanding educational connections establish institutional foundation for growth.

• National membership organization founded: Alliance for a Media Literate America (AMLA)

• Media Literacy Finds a Home in McREL Language Arts Standards

• CML's MediaLit Kit^TM -- A Framework for Learning and Living in a Media Age / 2002 identifies core elements of media literacy education

• Learning for the 21st Century situates media literacy as 21st century skill

• CML Launches Project SMARTArt website with virtual "how-to" program for integrating media literacy into K-5 arts and language arts.

• Five Key Questions That Can Change the World published; provides 25 lesson plans that provide firm foundation in media literacy basics