Online, tuned in, turned on: multimedia approaches to fostering critical media health literacy for adolescents

Abstract

The commercial media is an influential sociocultural force and transmitter of health information especially for adolescents. Instruction in critical media health literacy, a combination of concepts from critical health literacy and critical media literacy, is a potentially effective means of raising adolescents’ awareness about commercial media and its influence on their health. We first provide background on critical media health literacy for adolescents. We then discuss the potential for involving adolescents in creating multimedia to demonstrate basic principles of critical media health literacy skills. Using excerpts from two of our research projects to illustrate our ideas, we draw conclusions and suggest future research in critical media health literacy for adolescents.

Keywords:

• adolescents
• health education
• critical media health literacy

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [grant number 410-2009-0627] and Canadian Institutes of Health Research [grant number DFN 126385].

Notes on contributors

Dr Deborah L. Begoray is a Professor of Language and Literacy in the Faculty of Education at the University of Victoria, BC, Canada. She does research as a member of interdisciplinary teams on adolescent health literacy in school settings. She is currently interested in the development of CMHL by young adolescents.

Dr Elizabeth Banister is a Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Victoria, Canada. Her research interests include adolescent health and media literacy, health education, knowledge translation, and qualitative research design.

Dr Joan Wharf Higgins is a Professor and Canada Research Chair in the School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education at the University of Victoria, Canada. Her research interests include health and media literacy, social marketing, health promotion, knowledge exchange, and community-based research design.

Ms Robin Wilmot is a Ph.D. candidate in Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Victoria, Canada. Her research interests include teacher professional learning, knowledge mobilization, and adolescent content area literacy.