This document outlines five key questions media consumers should ask themselves to become more critical thinkers: 1) Who created the message? 2) What creative techniques were used? 3) How could others understand it differently? 4) What values or viewpoints are represented or omitted? 5) Why is this message being sent? The questions are meant to help readers look beyond surface-level content to understand how messages are constructed and could be interpreted in various ways based on experience and background.

1. MEDIA,
INFORMATION,
TECHNOLOGY
LITERACY

4. MY
RESPONSIBILITY
AS A MEDIA
CONSUMER

5. FIVE KEY
QUESTIONS

6. 1. Who created this
message?

7. •Exploring the creator of a
message is more than just
knowing their name. This
question introduces two
fundamental insights about all
media -“constructedness” and
choice.

8. Looking at the format of a media
message means analyzing the way
it is constructed, the creative
components that are used putting
it together-words, music, color,
movement camera angle and many
more.

9. 2. What creative
techniques are
used to attract
my attention?

10. 3. How might other
people understand
this message
differently than
me?

11. •Each individual media consumer
brings to each media encounter
a unique set of ideals,
experiences, and backgrounds.
The factors influence how you
understand and interpret the
media consume.

12. 4. What values,
lifestyle and points
of view are
represented in, or
omitted from, this
message?

13. The way information is sent,
packaged and received is
influenced by academic,
social, and political
principles-all media content
carry subtle message that
may sway our

14. opinions , even content
providers that try to present
information objectively can
have an unconscious slant.

15. 5.Why is this message
being sent?

16. •Examining the purpose of a
message uncovers how it may
have been influenced by
money, ego, or ideology

17. gives you knowledge on how to
interpret and respond to a
message appropriately.