Entertaining audiences, ensuring inclusivity, and considering media influence: Sixth graders’ understanding of media producers’ responsibility

ABSTRACT

Qualitatively analyzing 35 responses from a letter-writing homework in a media literacy education program, this study examines sixth graders’ understandings of producers’ responsibility in creating media content. Responses suggest their understandings about producers’ responsibility are bounded within the context of their media use as consumers, rather than as citizens. Findings focus on the importance of introducing contextual factors of media production as well as the challenges that researchers and educators might face.

KEYWORDS:

• Gender stereotypes
• media education
• media literacy
• media violence
• political economy of media