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:
-
Connect media messages to their economic and political intent.
-
Critically analyze how advertising, sponsorship, and ownership affect what media gets produced and how.
-
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:
-
What is the message?
-
Who created it?
-
Who paid for it?
-
What techniques are used to attract attention?
-
Who is the target audience?
-
Who gains power or profit from this message?
-
What might be omitted from this story?
Option 2: Create Your Own Viral Ad Campaign
-
Review previous vocabulary + tools: audience targeting, emotional appeals, sponsorship, persuasive devices.
-
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:
-
A final commercial or storyboard
-
A jingle or slogan/tagline
-
A brochure, meme, or poster
Each presentation should answer:
-
Who was your audience?
-
What persuasive devices or emotional techniques did you use?
-
What message were you trying to send—and what did you hope to gain?
