An Assessment on Media Literacy Education in Turkey and the Problems Experienced in Practice

Abstract

Media exists in every area of our societal lives, together with the fast improvement of novel communication technologies. Produced media texts reach to individuals via mass communication tools with very different contents, from newspapers to television programs and from news to cartoons. In this cyclical process of communication, the segment that might each be in the status of a passive receiver by being exposed to the negative influences of media texts is children and young people. Therefore, because of this role of the media that increases each day, many countries have developed a national education policy about media literacy in the education system. Instead of a protective approach about the contents of media texts; creating awareness, increasing the consciousness level, preparing basis for students to be able to comprehend the skill of critical approach are among the goals and gains of the education that will be given in this area. Improving the ability of questioning, commenting and evaluating media messages is only possible through a media education centered on critical thought.This study aims to investigate the media education given under the elective course named “media literacy”, which started to be taught in primary education 6th, 7th and 8th classes since 2006 in Turkey with the cooperation of RTÜK (Radio and Television Supreme Council) and MEB (Ministry of National Education), and aims to develop recommendations by identifying the problems in operation.