The representation of women in magazines

The Women's Forum Australia has recently conducted research into the portrayal of women and teenage girls in women's magazines, finding that females are disproportionately sexualised in magazines, compared to men. The findings can be read online, and the forum has produced a number of resources for those interested in studying this topic further, as part of the "Faking it" campaign - which would be extremely useful for media classrooms.

The forum has the following objectives:

1. To promote the advancement, well-being and freedom of all women;
2. To conduct and sponsor research about social, cultural, health and economic issues relevant to women;
3. To provide education to women and men about social, cultural, health and economic issues relevant to women;
4. To promote the equal participation and contribution of women and men in the work place and public life;
5. To promote a positive balance for women and men between family commitment and participation in the work force;
6. To mentor women in their contribution to public life;
7. To promote initiatives that work for improvements in the lives of all women, in particular women from disadvantaged and marginalised backgrounds including women with physical and intellectual disabilities, women with mental illness, refugee and migrant women and indigenous women; and
8. To empower women in their contribution to media and public debate and the formation of social policy.

Some of the work coming out of the WFA, particularly about women and media, has a protectionist agenda that perhaps fails to take account of the complex relationships young women have with the media. However, they also convincingly demonstrate that media often provide a significant proportion of the template young women have for imagining how they can "be" in the world.

Representing media literacy online - wiki entries on media literacy

Media literacy now has entries in both Wikipedia and the Wikiveristy, and the definitions and descriptions are worthy of analysis as media texts in their own right. The Wikipedia entry has evolved over the past eighteen months or so from being very much defined by the American media literacy movement, with a focus on protectionism. Over time the entry has been renovated by individuals from several countries to include international and historical information to place the American experience in a broader context.

It would be fair to describe the Wikiversity entry as still being quite American-centric, with little attention given to cultural studies approaches to media education.

MEAC - Media Education Across the Curriculum

MEAC is an initiative of a group of media educators from several European countries and based in Berlin. The website includes a range of resources that introduce uninitiated educators to media education. This includes introductory material such as ideas for using video cameras in the classroom, issues papers and information about professional development.

There is an associated blog that canvasses a range of issues and resources related to media education.

New Zealand Media Education

New Zealand has been an international leader in media education for at least two decades. Media Studies is widely taught there at both senior and junior secondary levels. A range of resources supporting New Zealand Media ed can be found on the Media Studies website, including an email discussion list.

The National Association of Media Educators of New Zealand also supports teachers through a range of resources, events and professional development opportunities. "Script" is a regular publication produced by NAME, outlining resources, news and opportunities for NZ media educators and past copies can be downloaded from the site.

Australian Media Education State by State

Media education is supported by a number of curriculum policy statements across Australia. There are no national statements supporting media education as a curriculum priority. Download documents at the following sites:

Queensland:

Media is one of the five strands of the Queensland Studies Authority Arts Years 1-10 syllabus. Education Queensland requires all students to meet media outcomes in this syllabus up to the end of year 7. In years 8-10 it is not mandatory, however many schools choose to implements media outcomes at these levels.

Senior Film, Television and New Media is a QSA elective subject offered in years 11 and 12 and taught in approximately 110 schools across the State.

Media and popular culture are also mandatory areas of study in both the QSA Years 1-10 English and Senior English syllabus documents.

Victoria:

Media is one of five strands of the Arts in the Victorian Essential Learnings for Years 1-10 (VELS).

VCE Media includes four Media units that can be studied by students at the senior level as electives.


South Australia:

In primary, middle years and senior, media is one of the five strands of the Arts in the SACSA Framework. Standards for media are outlined at each level.


New South Wales:

Media is the only one of the five Arts forms not represented by a stand alone syllabus in years 7-10, or at the Senior level in NSW.

However, Film and media are studied as part of the English syllabus in years 7-10, and as elective options within the HSC Senior English course.


Western Australia:

In years 1-10 Media is one of the five strands of the Arts.

At the Senior level, Media Studies can be selected as an elective within the Arts.


ACT:

At all levels of schooling - from early years to senior - Media outcomes exist as part of the Arts Key Learning Area.

Northern Territory:

The Northern Territory Curriculum Framework includes media as one of the five strands of the Arts Key Learning Area for years 1-10.

Senior secondary students in the Territory undertake subjects developed and accredited by the Senior Secondary Assessment Board of South Australia (SSABSA) - see South Australia.