Critical Media Research Articles

WHAT FACTORS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH CRITICAL MEDIA LITERACY IN LATER LIFE?

Abstract Who consumes new information from the media more critically? This study sought to empirically explore relevant factors associated with critical media literacy in later life. For the analyses, the 2021 Korean Media Panel Survey was utilized and the sample included 2,352 older Korean adults aged 65 and above (M=75.48, SD=7.34, range=65-106). Critical media literacy was measured by the mean of ten questions asking how critically evaluate the facticity, validity, intentions, and usefulness of new information from the media. Possible relevant factors include age, gender, education level, employment status, marital status, income level, and the ability to use digital technology (PC and smartphone). The results from the linear regression analyses showed that age, income level, and the ability to use digital technology were significantly associated with critical media literacy in later life. Older adults who are younger and have higher levels of income and the ability to use digital technology tend to evaluate new information from the media more critically. The findings from this study imply the importance of specialized media literacy education as social policy for older adults, especially those who are older and have lower levels of income and the ability to use digital technology. This study is significant as it empirically examined various factors related to critical media literacy in later life to inform intervention efforts to reduce misperceptions induced by misinformation that is rampant in this “information era”. Future studies are needed to investigate significant factors associated with critical media literacy in later life via various contexts.

The Challenges of Media Education in the Digital Era

The advent of the digital era has ushered in a transformative landscape in the field of media, necessitating a reevaluation of media education strategies. This study explores the multifaceted challenges facing media education in the digital age, with a focus on the evolving media landscape, technology integration, pedagogical approaches, and the role of educators. In today’s digitally connected world, the media ecosystem has become more complex and dynamic than ever before. The proliferation of social media platforms, online news sources, and user-generated content has fundamentally altered the way information is produced, disseminated, and consumed. Consequently, media education faces the challenge of keeping pace with the rapid evolution of digital media, ensuring that students are equipped with the critical thinking and media literacy skills necessary to navigate this ever-changing landscape. Another key challenge lies in the integration of technology within media education. While digital tools offer unprecedented opportunities for creativity and engagement, they also pose challenges related to accessibility, the digital divide, and the need for educators to continuously update their technological skills. Finding the right balance between traditional and digital media instruction is essential for effective pedagogy. Pedagogical approaches in media education must evolve to address the changing needs of students in the digital era. Educators must adapt their methods to foster critical thinking, digital literacy, and media ethics. Encouraging students to become discerning media consumers and responsible content creators is paramount to their success in the digital age. Furthermore, educators themselves face the challenge of professional development to stay abreast of emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in media education. Continuous learning and collaboration with industry professionals are essential to equip educators with the knowledge and skills needed to guide students effectively. The challenges of media education in the digital era are manifold, encompassing the dynamic nature of the media landscape, technology integration, evolving pedagogical approaches, and the ongoing development of educators themselves. Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort from educational institutions, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to ensure that media education remains relevant, effective, and capable of preparing students for the complexities of the digital age.

Transcription Factor FOSL1 Promotes Angiogenesis of Colon Carcinoma by Regulating the VEGF Pathway Through Activating TIMP1.

Angiogenesis is the critical media for tumor growth and migration. Tissue Inhibitor Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP1) acts as an oncogene in colon carcinoma (CC), but the biological effects of TIMP1 on angiogenesis remain an open issue. This study sought to explore the exact function and mechanism of TIMP1 in the angiogenesis of CC. Bioinformatics methods were utilized to analyze the expression of TIMP1 and its upstream transcription factor FOS-like antigen 1 (FOSL1) in the tumor tissue of CC. Meanwhile, in CC cell lines, real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were utilized to verify the expression of TIMP1 and FOSL1. Cell counting kit-8 and tube formation assays were utilized to analyze the proliferation and angiogenesis abilities of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of VEGFA, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and dual-luciferase reporter assays were carried out to explore the specific interaction between FOSL1 and TIMP1. The present study discovered that TIMP1 and FOSL1 were evidently up-regulated in CC tissue and cells. Meanwhile, TIMP1 was found to participate in regulating the signaling pathway of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Silenced TIMP1 conspicuously suppressed the proliferation and angiogenesis of HUVECs and reduced the protein expression of VEGFA, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3. Moreover, FOSL1 could promote TIMP1 transcription by binding with its promoter and the inhibition of TIMP1 expression obviously reversed the promotion effects of FOSL1 overexpression on the proliferation and angiogenesis of HUVECs. FOSL1 activated VEGF pathway by up-regulating TIMP1 expression, thereby advancing CC angiogenesis. We provided theoretical basis that the FOSL1/TIMP1/VEGF pathway might be a novel option for anti-angiogenesis therapy of CC.

Artificial journalism: the reverse of human-machine communication paradigm. Mapping the field of AI critical media studies

The study for the first time endeavours to elucidate the distinct conceptual nuances of AI-driven journalism, exploring how it reshapes the core technological and communicative attributes of the field while influencing societal dynamics. The crisis within AI-driven human-machine interaction in journalism rooted in the essence and processing of information is defined. Despite the paradigm of journalism is rooted in a human-centered approach, its AI-driven paradigm is the same - but in a reversible mode. Journalism involves the translation of personal perspectives and experiences through the filter of memory. Algorithms function without the nuances of personal and social memory, thereby undermining the core principles of the journalistic profession. The loss of genuine, “analog” memory among journalists and their audiences, alongside the digital “memory” of algorithms, jeopardizes the fundamental societal role of journalism-upholding social order. Re-thinking the AI phenomenon as artificial communication, the authors propose the term “artificial journalism”. At the basic technological level it is based on various forms of automation and embedded within digital infrastructures; at the societal level it is designed for the central purpose of journalism and entangled with human practices. Both the levels are reversible. The term could serve as an umbrella term for all the AI-driven journalism activities. Also it removes contradictions not only in human-machine communication but clarify the essence of AI performance in journalism and media studies, and for the users. The emergence of AI-driven media practices opens the basic crisis conceptual contradictions which provokes new realms of research and necessitates the establishment of critical AI media studies.

Is She a Feminist Icon Now? Barbie 2023 Movie and a Critique of Postfeminism

This study seeks to analyse Greta Gerwig’s Barbie 2023 movie, exploring how it playfully interacts with academic criticisms by incorporating them into its narrative in a humorous way. This article intends to investigate how the movie serves as a critique of postfeminist media texts by highlighting how it affects women's psychological well-being, illustrating the ways in which it can be debilitating. The movie also highlights the unfulfilled psychological aspects of feminism, rendering it a feminist text in that regard. A thematic analysis of the movie prompts a discussion on how a character who has been a postfeminist icon transforms into a feminist narrative identity.In the beginning of the film, Barbie resides within a paradisiacal realm characterized by unwavering agency and authority. She lives in Barbieland where “every day is a great day”. This mirrors the way in which both girls and boys immerse themselves in their imaginative play, constructing their microcosms replete with agency and the role of the protagonist (Yakali Camoglu, 2020). However, as individuals mature into adulthood, the shift is palpable and the world they encounter demands a relinquishment of some of that power, leading them to transition from active agents to potentially objectified subjects in certain contexts. This is symbolised in Barbie’s own transition from Barbieland (imaginations of childhood) to the Real World (adulthood) in the end of the movie.The movie engages in the critique that Barbie encounters, as her portrayal symbolizes the unrealistic standards imposed on women, portraying them as unattainable ideals. Although her initial intent -supposedly- is to empower girls by rescuing them from the confines of stereotypical maternal roles and introducing them to diverse occupations, her portrayal inadvertently immerses them in a realm where not only physical perfection but also success in careers and relationships is expected—a realm where limitless possibilities coexist with a profound burden. This postfeminist portrayal offers a vision of boundless potential achievable through belief in self, but concurrently fosters a burdensome mental strain and self-objectification among women, entangling them in a constant cycle of self-critique.This predicament forms the crux of Barbie's critical error, leading her to relinquish her paradisiacal abode, Barbieland, and embrace the realm of real-world womanhood. By assuming the complex roles women navigate, Barbie forfeits her idyllic sanctuary and immerses herself in a world where the concept of "perfection" is inherently absent, as authenticity takes precedence over plastic constructs.After identifying the existing literature on Barbie, the article proceeds to present the theoretical framework, which is postfeminism, and outlines the research methodology. The results of the thematic analysis reveal Barbie's active engagement in critiquing the postfeminist media culture in which she was a prominent figure. This pivotal process underscores Barbie's latest contribution to the realm of media studies, transforming from a text entrenched in postfeminist ideals to embodying a feminist narrative.

A CONCEPTUAL OF STUDY ON RADICAL PERSUASIVE COMMUNICATION: A RISK FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

Radical organisations frequently target young adults, especially college students, to enlist them as cadres for their movements all over the world. They are recruited in a variety of ways, with the use of cyberspace being particularly prevalent. These extremists no longer use face-to-face interactions in the physical world to promote extremism in the age of the internet. Instead, they use the internet and information technology. These radical groups frequently take advantage of the widespread use of the internet, social media, and social networking tools to spread their beliefs, advance their doctrines, identify and recruit potential cadres, and even to call for jihad against the West. The present study aims to explore the reasons for radical organisations in targeting young adults in delivering their propaganda. Meta-Analysis was conducted through a narrative review of findings from multiple primary research studies on various studies to derive more robust conclusions and identify patterns and consistencies across different studies. Factors contributed are idealism and passion, vulnerability, active and energy, access to education and resources as well as due to long-term commitment. Radical organisations exploit this idealism to recruit young adults who may be more willing to engage in radical activities to achieve their goals and also to provide the manpower needed to carry out their agendas. Additionally, college students may have access to resources, such as meeting spaces, funding, and a network of like-minded individuals, which can further the goals of radical organisations and the ability to provide a constant stream of recruits and sustain the organisation's activities over time as most young adults prioritise their education, personal growth, and other non-radical activities. Thus, it is crucial to promote critical thinking, media literacy, digital literacy and open dialogue to empower young adults to make informed decisions and resist the influence of radical organisations.

Promoting Critical Media Literacy in Bilingual Households Through Mother-Child Conversations About Gender: A Multiple Case Study

ABSTRACT This qualitative case study explores the intersection of family literacy, bilingualism, and critical media literacy by examining how mother-child conversations about children’s videos helped preschool, bilingual children develop critical perspectives on gender roles. As part of a larger qualitative study, this study focused on 4-year-old, Korean-descent children’s conversations with their mothers about gender representations in children’s videos as well as in their drawing. The data were collected over three months through multiple sources, including observations, interviews, and children’s artifacts. The findings of this study suggest that critical media literacy practices can be used in bilingual households as a tool to enrich family literacy environments in which mother and child explore gender representations in children’s media in an interactive and critical way.

Correction to: Optimization of critical medium components for lipase production by Neurospora crassa in solid state fermentation

Correction to: Optimization of critical medium components for lipase production by Neurospora crassa in solid state fermentation

Teaching critical race media literacy through Black historical narratives

Teaching critical race media literacy through Black historical narratives

Sentiment Analysis to Identify Consumer Criticism of Artificial Intelligence: A ChatGPT Case Study

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into various aspects of our lives, understanding consumer sentiment and criticism towards artificial intelligence technologies becomes pivotal for effective utilization. This study presents a case study focusing on ChatGPT, a popular AI application, as a means to identify consumer criticism of AI use in businesses. By harnessing sentiment analysis and clear analytics, administrators can enhance their understanding of consumer feedback and thereby improve AI integration for better user experiences. Increased consumer satisfaction is important to overall business to consumer relationships and streamlined AI use will facilitate company procedures. Our methodology revolves around machine learning techniques, specifically utilizing four classifiers, Keras logistic regression, Naive Bayes, Support Vector Machine, and random forest regressor, alongside two numerical feature representations, Bag-of-Words and Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency. The results show that the Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency features combined with the random forest regressor yielded the strongest performance in identifying criticism of ChatGPT-related media, with F1 scores of 100 and 99 percent for no criticism and criticism, respectively.

The curious case of the lion from Berlin in summer’ 23: how Internet media shapes risk perception from wildlife-human conflict

Introduction. This paper explores the reactions of citizens to a perceived security risk at the human-wildlife interface mediated by social and traditional media sources. We take the case study of a reported ‘lioness’ appearing in the outskirts of Berlin as a risk to human and domestic animal life, sparking media frenzies.
 Methods. The subjects’ reactions to and perceptions of risk can be analysed through a mixed-methods (quantitative and qualitative) approach to information obtained via the respective media channels in covering the phenomenon as a newsworthy event of this research identifies three distinct peaks in public interest and response.
 Results. Following a Foucauldian tradition of problematisation, and a scholarship of critical media studies, we demonstrate that the ordering of animals in relation to society allows for a normalisation of certain threats from human-wildlife conflict while placing others in a state of exception which needs immediate action. We do not take the social conditions of predator-prey relations as a given, but seek to ‘de-normalise’ them and question the level of risk constructed, which plays out across public and media spheres and may carry over into human-wildlife conflicts. Our case study shows how social media posts can lead to the emergence of a perceived risk to society, which is reacted to dramatically, and whose emergency situation becomes a newsworthy event that confirms and seems to justify the level of security measures taken. The engagement of citizens online and with the emergency response teams can be viewed as overreacting to the situations based on having a real sense of danger of a ‘lioness’ penetrating their interactions with larger wildlife.
 Conclusions: That is, until it is determined that no immediate risk exists, and the actions taken are critiqued as a hysterical misinformed approach of ‘city dwelling’ officials lacking knowledge of wildlife in one’s region. We then speculate about what ethical and political repercussions this may create for multispecies co-existence with predators and pests in Germany.

Transcending “flexible time”: Platform labor in the Chinese food delivery industry and its temporal politics

“Flexible time” as a myth in platform labor has been destructed by critical media scholars. However, while previous studies have answered the question of what platform time “isn’t,” most failed to go further in analyzing what “it is.” Based on the 6-month fieldwork, this study aims to re-construct the temporal politics of platform labor in the online food delivery industry in China. Specifically, we employ an inherently relational perspective to analyze three differential temporal themes constructed by heterogeneous actors, namely the “daily time” by third-party subcontractor, “event time” by platform, and “poaching time” by rider. In the investigation of multiple temporalities, this article also uncovers the asymmetrical “relational balancing” among heterogeneous actors in platform labor.

The Shift from Print to Digital Media and Its Effect on Users' Media Literacy in Critiquing the Depth of News: A Systematic Literature Review

Since the global outbreak of coronavirus, the existence of print media has been displaced by online media which the public can easily access any information from their smartphones. However, with this change the credibility of online media is often questioned because of the rampant fake news circulating, where one of the reasons is accessibility that everyone could become a writer. On the other hand, the editing process is considered not as strict as the printed media, so that it has a stigma that this news is just faster than the others but without any appropriate confirmation of facts. Thus this systematic literature review study will discuss the effect of changing print media to digital media and its influence on user media literacy in criticizing news The results obtained show that there are still many people, especially the younger generation, who cannot distinguish fake news from the accurate one. In conclusion critical media literacy is needed so that journalism in the future does not experience setbacks.

Hydrolyzed sewage sludge as raw bio-based material for hermetic bag production

This study aimed to assess the potential of sewage sludge, a significant residue of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), as a sustainable resource for producing a bio-based material for hermetic bags (BMHB), in order to reduce the dependency on petroleum-derived plastics. The approach involved the application of thermal hydrolysis to solubilize sewage sludge, and it systematically examined critical process parameters, including temperature (120–150 °C), residence time (1–4 h), and medium pH (6.6–10). Results revealed that alkaline thermal hydrolysis significantly enhanced biomolecule solubilization, particularly proteins (289 ± 1 mg/gVSSo), followed by humic-like substances (144 ± 6 mg/gVSSo) and carbohydrates (49 ± 2 mg/gVSSo). This condition also increased the presence of large-and medium-sized compounds, thereby enhancing BMHB mechanical resistance, with puncture resistance values reaching 63.7 ± 0.2 N/mm. Effective retention of UV light within the 280–400 nm range was also observed. All BMHB samples exhibited similar properties, including water vapor permeability (WVP) (∼3.9 g * mm/m2 * h * kPa), hydrophilicity (contact angles varied from 35.4° ± 0.3 to 64° ± 5), solubility (∼95%), and thermal stability (∼74% degradation at 700 °C). Notably, BMHB proved to be an eco-friendly packaging for acetamiprid, an agricultural pesticide, preventing direct human exposure to harmful substances. Testing indicated rapid pesticide release within 5 min of BMHB immersion in water, with only 5% of BMHB residues remaining after 20 min. Additionally, the application of this material in soil was considered safe, as it met regulatory limits for heavy metal content and exhibited an absence of microorganisms.

Towards a critical media ecology: Gender and media ecology

As a purposefully enacted form of praxis, this article represents a feminist methodological approach guided by the author’s personal introduction into choice works of feminist scholarship. By employing feminist epistemologies, this article demonstrates that each of our realities of understanding is made possible by our own differing subjective situations and our resonance towards difference. Throughout the piece, multiple parallel philosophical and ontological orientations are suggested in efforts to theoretically connect a broad array of feminist theories and praxis with canonic tenants of media ecology (such as language play, creation of counter-environments and breakdowns as breakthroughs). Written prior to the ‘Gender and Media Ecology’ invited Special Issue of EME, Dr. bird provides their own survey of ‘Gender and Media Ecology’, suggesting foundational means of future critical pursuits. The ultimate aim of this work is to invite future, even more expansive critical media ecological scholarship to continue similar efforts, which would provide even more holistically intersectional and invaluable means of challenging taken-for-granted institutional and societal norms inside the field of media ecology and beyond.

YouTube and the restructuring of play: A media (auto)poetics of toy unboxing videos

Toy unboxing videos are a popular and lucrative form of children’s entertainment on YouTube. This essay undertakes a media (auto)poetics of these videos and their relationship to children’s play through an integrated analysis of technology (media ecology), text (rhetorical criticism) and participant experience (autoethnography). Based on this analysis, I argue that toy unboxing videos foster and promote a form of ‘play as advertising’ via three key structural features: (1) repetition of the interest-excitement affect, (2) object fetishization and (3) direct address. In a concluding section of the essay, I reflect on the implications of the preceding analysis for digital media criticism, online advertising and children’s play.

Adolescents’ critical, multimodal analysis of social media self-representation

In a digital society, adolescents’ lives are heavily influenced by various multimodal texts published on social media platforms. Digital texts challenge conventional forms of literacy teaching while requiring new forms of critical media literacy. Previous research has shown that teachers require professional development and support to include critical media literacy in the classroom. In this article, we report the findings from a study of two lower secondary school teachers and their students (n = 43; ages 13–14) in Norway. The study explored a framework for increasing students’ understanding of multimodal texts and meaning making on social media. Drawing on theories of social semiotics, multimodality, and critical literacy, the study explored how students developed meta-semiotic competence to scaffold their ability to critically deconstruct, challenge, and produce multimodal, digital texts. The study indicates that multimodal analysis and production of self-representations can be an effective framework for developing critical media literacy in the classroom. The study demonstrates that students can compose intricate texts that are distinct from social media images when supported to understand the meanings behind the symbols they employ. It highlights specific kinds of semiotic understandings that must be introduced to students to enable them to approach social media texts analytically and critically.

Provoking Gut-Level Reactions: A Study on Journalistic Framing During the 2020 Meatpacking Crisis

ABSTRACT This study investigates news frames used by mainstream news media in the United States to portray the 2020 meatpacking crisis. By integrating framing and animal standpoint theory, it reveals the mechanisms that perpetuate social ignorance about daily practices within the meat industry, particularly those that exclude the perspectives of farmed animals. Through an engagement with intersectional ecofeminism and Critical Animal and Media Studies (CAMS), the investigation probes the cyclical patterns of violence inflicted upon farmed animals in the meat industry as portrayed by news outlets, a phenomenon that simultaneously impacts marginalized human communities. The inclusion of farmed animals as news sources in journalism is discussed as a prescriptive approach to remedy social ignorance on animal agriculture news.

Hindu-Nationalism and Media: Anti-Press Sentiments by Right-Wing Media in India

This monograph investigates the expression of anti-media populist sentiments by right-wing news media in India and the socio-technological, historical, economic, legal, and political factors that aid right-wing efforts to delegitimize professional journalism. Thematic analysis of 545 articles from Swarajya.com and OpIndia.com, a qualitative content analysis of Republic TV debates, and interviews with 24 Hindu nationalists on Twitter reveal the discursive strategies they use to discredit journalism. Themes in media criticism include claims that the mainstream media are corrupt and partisan, suppress Hindu voices, favor Muslim and Christian minorities, undermine national interests, and spread false narratives. These expressions aim to undermine journalists’ credibility and position right-wing actors as challengers to the established media’s hegemony. Meanwhile, the Modi government employs coercive measures to co-opt the media into providing favorable coverage to the BJP. These endeavors cause journalists to self-censor to safeguard personal safety and livelihood. Consequently, mainstream news content is increasingly homogeneous, eroding diverse perspectives. This shift weakens the media’s watchdog role and shrinks the space for open debate and public deliberation in India.

Optimization of critical medium components for lipase production by Neurospora crassa in solid state fermentation

Optimization of critical medium components for lipase production by Neurospora crassa in solid state fermentation