Commission on Media

Function: The Commission on Media is a deliberative and advisory body which each year identifies and reports to the NCTE Executive Committee on key issues in the teaching of media; reviews what the Council has done concerning media during the year; and recommends new projects and persons who might undertake them. The Commission monitors current and projected NCTE publications (other than journals), suggests topics for future NCTE publications on media, and performs a similar role of review and recommendation for the NCTE Annual Convention program. Occasionally, the Commission undertakes further tasks and projects as approved by the Executive Committee.

Convention Matters

The Commission on Media met Sunday and Monday. A portion of the meeting was spent identifying potential media commission members and the planning for sessions for the 2005 conference.

At the behest of Randy Boomer and members of NCTE’s executive committee, commission directors met to discuss NCTE’s three foci for the 04-05 year. One of issues, multi-modal literacies, was discussed at length during our Sunday commission meeting. Key readings, issues, and concerns were listed. The compilation of that brainstorming session was sent to Dickie Selfe, chair of the multi-modal literacies task force.

Several key accomplishments are of note. This year, the executive committee established the NCTE Award for Excellence in Media Education to an individual, group of individuals, a school, a district or an organization that exemplifies persistent, innovative and imaginative application of media analysis and media composition in English education. This award was originally conceptualized as part of the Media Composition resolution at the 2003 Annual Conference in San Francisco which was co-authored and sponsored by Commission on Media members. Special thanks to Mary Christel and Scott Sullivan for shepherding the project through completion and to the executive committee for their support to recognize excellence in media literacy education.

Another highlight is the media literacy best practices book, Making Media Matter: Lessons for Literacy in the English Classroom, currently underway under the direction of several Commission on Media members. Edited by Mary Christel and Scott Sullivan, this text is planned to be a compilation of exemplary media literacy lesson plans for K-16 classroom use.  The text is in the early writing stages as it has a variety of authors from a number of grade levels and disciplines.

Long Term Goals

During the next year, Commission on Media members will be compiling an annotated bibliography of media literacy related articles, books, and book chapters. In addition to specific media information (film, TV, internet, etc.), there will be a focus on reading and composing with media. The goal is to create a working database whereby teachers and scholars can have access to past and current research/best teaching practice information. We will be exploring how we might be able to tie the database into NCTE’s existing website.  The Commission is hoping to work alongside the Multi-Literacies Task Force in order to not duplicate efforts.

David Bruce, Director