Media Literacy in Massachusetts: A Landscape Scan

Many educators believe that Massachusetts could be a national leader in K-12 media literacy education. In interviews, educators shared the sentiment that leadership from DESE, superintendents, and community leaders are all essential. But mandates without funding are not effective and need to be accompanied by funding, guidance, and incentives. One teacher shared her perspective that “even with mandates and funding, policy is most helpful when it gives teachers tangible and measurable guidance.”

To build support for systemic change, it is essential to imagine the future.

At the May 13th meeting of Massachusetts Media Literacy Advisory Council, participants used strategic visioning to imagine the future. Ten years from now, in 2035, media literacy education in Massachusetts is thriving and its impact is visible in the community, the schools, and even in the media.

Click here to read the report 

This project began with The Office of Literacy & Humanities at Massachusetts’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education seeking to increase attention to and investment in media literacy education in state policy and resources, especially as it relates to civics education.

Media literacy is a life skill that belongs in every subject area—not just social studies—to support students’ civic journeys. In today’s digital world, students must be able to think critically, evaluate sources, and understand media messages’ influences—and this must become a habit developed via every subject they study at all grade levels, so that students develop the foundational and advanced-level skills they need to meet the challenges of engaging in democratic society today. 

Massachusetts has a longstanding reputation for leading the nation in education and has been a pioneer in providing students with significant learning opportunities to develop and practice media literacy-related skills. The state’s support for local innovation has long been a key strategy for advancing innovation.

To better understand the status, challenges, and opportunities for advancing media literacy education in K-12 public schools, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) commissioned this report from Media Literacy Now in partnership with the Media Education Lab. This year-long study includes a comprehensive literature review, interviews with Massachusetts K-12 educators, an online survey of Massachusetts teachers, and input from national media literacy experts and experienced education professionals who participated in a three-round Delphi expert panel.