For Immediate Release September 30, 1997
Contact:
Associate Professor Renee Hobbs, Babson College (781) 239-4975
Barbara Spies Blair, Babson College Public Relations (781) 239-4621
Bay State's Media Literacy Movement Receives Grant From Early TV Pioneer
Wellesley, MassÖMassachusetts educators who specialize in media literacy--critical thinking about television, newspapers, radio, magazines, movies, and the Internet--are the recent recipients of a $50,000 grant from the Felton Media Literacy Scholars Program.
The program founded by Norman Felton, a renowned TV producer of such classics as Dr. Kildare, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and Studio One, will support educators in their efforts to make children and young people media smart.
Felton is past president, Director's Guild and recipient of an Emmy, Sylvania, TV Guild Gold Medal, and several Christopher awards. Commenting on the program Felton said "This could be the answer to developing an educated citizenry."
Renee Hobbs, associate professor, communication, Babson College and director, Media Literacy Project, Clark University will direct the program scheduled to begin this spring for 15 Boston-area educators and media professionals. -more-
"The Felton Media Literacy Scholars Program is an opportunity for media educators to help others teach children how to critically analyze the messages they receive from media and technology," said Hobbs.
Hobbs created the nation's first teacher education program in media literacy at Harvard University's Institute on Media Education. Her highly acclaimed parent workshop, "Taking Charge of Your TV," was supported by the National Parent Teacher Association. In 1995, she developed KNOW-TV, a curriculum funded by The Learning Channel to analyze non-fiction TV which won that year's Golden Cable Ace Award for Public Service Programming.
Media literacy is now part of the curriculum framework for the State of Massachusetts. Hobbs has worked with Massachusetts educators in communities including Worcester, Billerica, Newton, Franklin, and Dennis-Yarmouth to include media literacy within existing coursework in language arts, social studies, and health education.
Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., recognized internationally as a leader in entrepreneurial management education, was founded in 1919 by entrepreneur and financier Roger W. Babson. It grants BS and MBA degrees through its undergraduate program and the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College, and offers executive development programs to experienced managers worldwide through the Babson School of Executive Education. Babson's degree programs are accredited by AACSB - The International Association for Management Education, and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. ###
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