Media Literacy in Schools: A Recipe for Success or Disaster?

Media literacy is making its way into California schools as a required subject for K-12 students, and honestly, I can’t think of a worse idea! Sure, being media-savvy is important, but having it dictated by the state? That’s a recipe for disaster if you ask me. As someone who's been in the journalism and communications game for a while, I’m all for teaching kids to navigate the media landscape, but let’s keep it in the hands of parents and caring adults—not politicians with their own agendas, no matter what side of the aisle they sit on. Our schools are already juggling the basics—reading, writing, and arithmetic—so maybe we should focus on getting those right before piling on more! What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic!Takeaways:California has made media literacy a required subject for K-12 schools, which is a big deal!New York is considering following California's lead, but is it really the best idea?As a journalist, I support media literacy, but state-mandated programs raise some red flags for me.Teaching media literacy should be a personal journey rather than a top-down political mandate, am I right?Our public schools need to focus on core subjects like reading and math before adding more to the curriculum.Let's prioritize getting the basics right in education before piling on new requirements like media literacy.Links referenced in this episode:jamesabrown.netjamesthedailynote.net