Topics | Media Education Lab

Media and Health

Media literacy is a vital component of health education. Children and young people benefit from opportunities to critically analyze alcohol and tobacco advertisements. They can recognize and resist unrealistic beauty ideals. They can understand how media culture shapes our nutritional choices, including diet and exercise.

Teaching about Nazi Propaganda: Lessons from Yesterday for Today and Tomorrow
Renee Hobbs joins the education staff of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum for a conversation about the special exhibition entitled, "State of Deception," about the power of Nazi propaganda.
What We're Watching: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold
YOU'RE INVITED! On Wednesday, November 16 from 6 - 8 p.m., we're hosting a Media Smart Seminar to view and discuss the Morgan Spurlock film, "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold." Location:…
Media Smart Seminar on October 26th
Join us for a roundtable discussion on digital and media literacy in Philadelphia. You're invited to participate in an informal seminar with educators working in K-12, college and in non-profit organizations…
Labsters Welcome NAMLE to Philadelphia
Everyone at the Media Education Lab is looking forward to the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) as it comes to Philadelphia July 22 - 25, 2011. This group…

Digital and Media Literacy: Connecting Culture and Classroom
JUST RELEASED! Learn the secrets of media literacy pedagogy in Grades 7 - 12 and maximize the power of mass media, popular culture and digital media for teaching and learning.
Powerful Voices for Kids Program
Coming Soon - An online resource for digital and media literacy with children ages 5 - 13 Until then, meet our partner schools!
Tuning in to Media: Literacy for the Information Age
In this award-winning documentary, Renee Hobbs offers a compelling analysis of how news and entertainment covered the Rodney King beating and 1992 Los Angeles riots and introduces the key concepts…
Assignment: Media Literacy
Finally, the comprehensive three-volume curriculum created by Renee Hobbs is available online. This is the 18-unit curriculum developed for Maryland State Department of Education and Discovery Communications, Inc. You can download the PDF files…

Some of the publications of members of the Media Education Lab team:

Morris, N., Gilpin, D., Lenos, M. & Hobbs, R. . (2011, July). Interpretations of cigarette advertisement warning labels by Philadelphia Puerto Ricans.. Journal of Health Communication, (16) 908 - 922.
Hobbs, R.. (2011, November). Digital and Media Literacy: The Pleasures and Perils of Online Pranking. ASCA School Counselor, 31 - 35.
Hobbs. R.. (2010, September). Empowerment and protection: Complementary strategies for digital and media literacy education in the United States.. Formare, (70) 1 - 17.
(2010, June). Media Education Lab 2010 End-of-Year Report. Philadelphia: Temple University
Hobbs, R. (2010, November). Digital and Media Literacy: A Plan of Action. The Aspen Institute, (Washington, DC)
Hobbs, R., Pruitt-Mentle, D. and others. (2009, July). Internet Safety and Responsible Behavior Online. Threshold, (7) 19-24.
Hobbs, R., Broder, S., Pope, H. & Rowe, J.. (2006, January). How Adolescent Girls Interpret Weight-Loss Advertising. Health Education Research, (21) 719-730.
Primack B.A., Gold M.A., Switzer G.E., Hobbs R., Land S.R., & Fine M.J.. (2006, January). Development and Validation of a Smoking Media Literacy Scale. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 369-374.
Primack, B.A., Hobbs, R., Switzer, G.E., Land, S., Fine, M.F. & Gold, M.. (2006, January). Associations Between Media Literacy and Adolescent Smoking. Journal of Adolescent Health, (38) 93-94.
Mendoza, K.. (2005). Media Literacy and Health Education: What is the Prognosis?. Philadelphia: Temple University