Web Watch:

The Media Literacy Clearinghouse

Susan Deysher
CAST, Inc.

The Media Literacy Clearinghouse is a rich resource for K-12 teachers interested in incorporating media literacy into their teaching.  It was originally developed by the Office of Alcohol and Drug Studies in the Department of Neuropsychiatry & Behavioral Science at the University of South Carolina's School of Medicine.  Its initial intent was to support an initiative in South Carolina's middle schools to teach students media literacy skills in conjunction with learning about health-related risks for young adolescents.  As such, you'll find information related to topics such as teens, sex, and the media, tobacco advertising, deconstructing cigarette ads, and alcohol advertising.   

However, there's a wealth of other content that expands the site well beyond its initial purpose; in fact, the site is currently being maintained  as a clearinghouse by a media educator in South Carolina.  In addition to numerous links to pages such as Celebrities in Advertising, Gender/Representation, and Political Campaign Ad Resources, there are several links that highlight connections between media literacy and content area instruction.  For example, check out lesson plans for Math in the Media, Integrating Media Literacy Into Social Studies, and Math and Science Connections to Media Literacy.

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