Lesson 5
Key Question:
Why is this message being sent?
Vocabulary:
Political Economy – A way of understanding how economic systems and power structures influence what media gets created and shared.
Power & Profit – The motivations behind many media messages—to gain influence or earn money.
Sponsor – A company or individual that funds media in exchange for visibility or influence.
Advertising – Media content specifically designed to persuade and sell.
Conglomerate – A large corporation that owns many smaller media companies, giving it significant control over information and content.
Most Media Messages Are Organized to
Gain Profit
and/or Power
by the end of this lesson:
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Connect media messages to their economic and political intent.
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Critically analyze how advertising, sponsorship, and ownership affect what media gets produced and how.
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Identify power structures and profit motives in persuasive content.
Icebreaker:
Media Memory Wall
Lesson:
Who Makes the Media —and Why?
Option 1: Dissect an Advertisement
Students can choose a known commercial, meme, or ad campaign (online or in print) and complete a Media Message Dissection worksheet:
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What is the message?
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Who created it?
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Who paid for it?
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What techniques are used to attract attention?
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Who is the target audience?
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Who gains power or profit from this message?
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What might be omitted from this story?
Option 2: Create Your Own Viral Ad Campaign
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Review previous vocabulary + tools: audience targeting, emotional appeals, sponsorship, persuasive devices.
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Students draw two random cards/slips: a media literacy concept and one with a target audience
Media Literacy Questions:
“How does understanding the purpose behind media messages change the way you see them? Who gains power from this message—and how?”
Exit ticket:
Each group or individual shares one of the following:
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A final commercial or storyboard
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A jingle or slogan/tagline
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A brochure, meme, or poster
Each presentation should answer:
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Who was your audience?
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What persuasive devices or emotional techniques did you use?
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What message were you trying to send—and what did you hope to gain?