Media and Information Literacy Quarter 2

Opportunities and Challenges in Media and Information

MELC 1 – Understand opportunities and challenges in media and information.
MELC 2 - Cite an example of an issue showing the power of media and information that affect change

Definition of Terms:
Challenges Is something new and difficult which requires great effort and determination.
Cybercrime Criminal activity or a crime that involves the internet, a computer system, or computer technology.
Illegal Content Any type of content that could be damaging to young people.
Opportunity Is a set of situations that makes possible to do something
Power Media power means the concentration of symbolic power in media institutions, particularly those of television,
radio, and the press.
Media and other information providers play a central role in information and communication processes. Nowadays,
media become the common outlet of self-expression and creativity. Its huge influence spreads speedily across the
globe. The connection between technological advances and people’s connectivity created a huge impact on the lives
of today’s generation.

Media provide us with a variety of information however, harmful online effects are also rampant. Activities such as
pornography, defamation, infringement, bullying, identity theft, profile manipulation, and all others are some of the
harmful acts that can affect a peaceful living. Positive and negative impacts are both products of media and information.

In an article of [Link], titled “Opportunities, Challenges and Power of Media” by Flores, A. (2018) discussed the
following. “The spread of new freedoms and extent of frontiers of freedom that the public authorities have often
attempted to control; religious, freedoms, gender, ethnicity and sexual freedoms based on social and cultural identities.

OPPORTUNITY. It is a set of situations that makes it possible to do something.

1. Economy
Economic actors need accurate and timely information to allocate resources efficiently, investors and other groups
increasing value and demand a governance monitoring role from the media. A free and independent press
can provide information and monitoring to the economic policy development process leading to more
effective economic policies. It can also reduce political risk and increase good governance- conditions that are
important for robust economic development. Media improves the efficiency of the economy by providing actors
more and better information with which make decisions and improving stability. - Media enhances political
coordination in the development of sound economic policy - Media sector development can reduce political risk,
increasing stability for higher risk countries.

2. Education
In Sites Using Video As we know from the recent ubiquity of online digital video, the video has become a
compelling tool for educational representation. students use it in their projects: teachers and pre-service teachers
use it to study pedagogy; and researchers use it for capturing and examining how learning happens, as they
unfold.

3. Social
In today's world, media becomes as essential as our daily needs. Media of today is playing an outstanding role in
creating and shaping of public opinion and strengthening of society. Media is the sword arm of democracy.
Media acts as watchdog to protect public interest against malpractice and create public awareness.

4. Political
The political landscape has changed quite a bit in the last couple of decades. The internet has played a large role
in this transformation. Social media, in particular, is now a serious factor in political campaigns and in the way,
people think about issues. Candidates and their supporters constantly post their views on Facebook and Twitter.
Each party has its own pages, from which it broadcasts propaganda and requests for donations. Let’s look at some
of the leading ways that social media influences politics today.

5. News Around the Clock

One of the ways that social media has transformed politics is the sheer speed at which news, poll results and
rumors are shared. Whereas in the pre-internet days, people had to wait for the next newspaper or TV news show
to get the latest information, online news is a 24/7 phenomenon. Social media has taken this a step further. While
you can access news on many websites at any hour, most people spend more time on sites such as Facebook
and Twitter than they do on serious news or political websites. This means that you get all of the latest
trending news stories and opinions shared by your friends whenever you log on.

6. The Impact of Polls

Political polls are an important part of every campaign. They are often confusing, because you
can often find multiple polls with contradictory results posted on the very same day.
As with other types of political news, the internet has greatly increased the number of poll result
as we see each day. Social media has accelerated this even more. Not only do social media sites
report the results of polls, you can actually participate in Facebook polls.
Polls results have a big influence on elections. This is true even if they are flawed. A poll can be a
self-fulfilling prophecy. For example, if people think one candidate is far ahead in the race, they
might conclude there’s no point in voting for the underdog. When people are posting the latest
poll results on social media throughout the day, there’s a great deal of pressure on candidates to
pull ahead of their opponents.
7. Direct Interaction With Politicians
One of the positive effects that social media has on politics is the opportunity for voters to
interact more easily with candidates and elected officials. Traditionally, if you wanted to meet a
politician or candidate, you’d have to attend a live event. Not everyone is able to do this. With
modern technology, it’s now possible to attend virtual events where you can participate in live
streaming events and interact with politicians and candidates.
8. Demographics and Targeting
Targeting is used throughout the advertising industry to make sure that ads and messages reach
the right audience. Politicians do this as well. In the age of social media, politicians and people
running for office are able to target their campaigns.
If a candidate wants to address the concerns of women, college students, retired people, Latinos
or any other group of voters, they can now tailor their messages. Just as advertisers on Facebook
are able to use analytics and targeted advertising, so can candidates and politicians. Thus, if you
notice that political messages seem to be talking to you personally, this is no accident.
CHALLENGES
It is something new and difficult which requires great effort and determination. It includes Illegal
Content, Cybercrime, Copyright, Infringement, Identity Theft.
1. Illegal Content
It’s any type of content that could be damaging to young people, including: real or simulated
violence sexually explicit content illegal images of child sexual abuse content promoting hate
based on race, religion or sexual preference content instructing or promoting crime or violence
content promoting violent extremism content that advocates unsafe behavior like extreme
dieting or drug taking the use of a computer as an instrument to further illegal ends.
2. Cybercrime
Criminal activity or a crime that involves the Internet, a computer system or a computer
technology.
3. Copyright Infringement
It is the use of works protected by copyright law without permission, infringing certain exclusive
rights granted to the copyright holder, such as the right to reproduce, distribute, display or
perform the protected work, or to make derivative works.
4. Identity Theft
It is the deliberate use of someone else's identity, usually as a method to gain a financial
advantage or obtain credit and other benefits in the other person's name, and perhaps to the
other person's disadvantage or loss.
POWER
'Media power' means here the concentration of symbolic power in media institutions, particularly
those of television, radio and the press (the common-sense definition of 'the media'), although
the long-term impact of new media on media power is considered.
1. Business Strategy
It’s a trend that is already spreading to businesses beyond the newsroom, whether it be because
of digital marketing or new customer service communication channels.
2. Banks of the Future
Social media is transforming banking relationships in very significant ways, from improving
customer service to allowing users to send money to others via online platforms. New financial
technology companies are using social media to help people simply open a bank account. Social
media can even impact your ability to get a loan.
3. Health Care & Public HealTh of Polls

6. The Impact Polls

Political polls are an important part of every campaign. They are often confusing, because you can often find
multiple polls with contradictory results posted on the very same day. As with other types of political news, the
internet has greatly increased the number of poll result as we see each day. Social media has accelerated this even
more. Not only do social media sites report the results of polls, you can actually participate in Facebook polls.
Polls results have a big influence on elections. This is true even if they are flawed. A poll can be a self-fulfilling
prophecy. For example, if people think one candidate is far ahead in the race, they might conclude there’s no
point in voting for the underdog. When people are posting the latest poll results on social media throughout the
day, there’s a great deal of pressure on candidates to pull ahead of their opponents.
7. Direct Interaction With Politicians
One of the positive effects that social media has on politics is the opportunity for voters to interact
more easily with candidates and elected officials. Traditionally, if you wanted to meet a politician or candidate,
you’d have to attend a live event. Not everyone is able to do this. With modern technology, it’s now possible to
attend virtual events where you can participate in livestreaming events and interact with politicians and
candidates.

8. Demographics and Targeting

Targeting is used throughout the advertising industry to make sure that ads and messages reach the right audience.
Politicians do this as well. In the age of social media, politicians and people running for office are able to target
their campaigns. If a candidate wants to address the concerns of women, college students, retired people, Latinos
are any other group of voters, they can now tailor their messages. Just as advertisers on Facebook are able to use
analytics and targeted advertising, so can candidates and politicians. Thus, if you notice that political messages
seem to be talking to you personally, this is no accident.

CHALLENGES
It is something new and difficult which requires great effort and determination. It includes Illegal Content,
Cybercrime, Copyright, Infringement, Identity Theft.

1. Illegal Content
It’s any type of content that could be damaging to young people, including: real or simulated violence
sexually explicit content illegal images of child sexual abuse content promoting hate based on race, religion
or sexual preference content instructing or promoting crime or violence content promoting violent
extremism content that advocates unsafe behavior like extreme dieting or drug taking the use of a
computer as an instrument to further illegal ends.

2. Cybercrime
Criminal activity or a crime that involves the Internet, a computer system or a computer technology.

3. Copyright Infringement
It is the use of works protected by copyright law without permission, infringing certain exclusive rights
granted to the copyright holder, such as the right to reproduce, distribute, display or perform the protected
work, or to make derivative works.

4. Identity Theft
It is the deliberate use of someone else's identity, usually as a method to gain a financial advantage or obtain
credit and other benefits in the other person's name, and perhaps to the other person's disadvantage or loss.

POWER
'Media power' means here the concentration of symbolic power in media institutions, particularly those of
television, radio and the press (the common-sense definition of 'the media'), although the long-term impact of new
media on media power is considered.

1. Business Strategy
It’s a trend that is already spreading to businesses beyond the newsroom, whether it be because of digital
marketing or new customer service communication channels.

2. Banks of the Future

Social media is transforming banking relationships in very significant ways, from improving customer
service to allowing users to send money to others via online platforms. New financial technology companies
are using social media to help people simply open a bank account. Social media can even impact your ability
to get a loan.

3. Health Care & Public Health

Social media has been responsible for relevant changes in both personal and community health, especially by
making it easier for large numbers of people to rapidly share information. Looking back on the opportunities
and power of media presented above, we can conclude that technology becomes a very powerful in almost all
aspect of human living and society. However, challenges in regards with its use are also lurking in every
corner. With these, responsible use media should always be taken into consideration