Media messages — Media, 7–10 years
Every piece of media gives us a message, even when it looks like simple entertainment. Learn to notice what it shows, says and leaves out.
What a media message is
A media message is the meaning a person or group builds with words, pictures, sounds or video. A football poster may show an exciting player and bright colours, making the match seem thrilling before it says anything directly.
Why messages are made
Media makers need to choose what to include because nobody can show every detail of an event. They select, arrange and decorate information to help people understand, feel something or do something; noticing these choices stops a picture from seeming completely neutral.
A poster, step by step
Imagine a poster for a school clean-up. First, it shows a smiling child holding a full bag, not a messy street. Second, it uses green letters and the words “Make our park shine”. Third, it puts the time in small print. The message is that helping is positive and simple, but the time still needs checking.
The picture is not the whole story
A common mistake is to think a photo simply shows exactly what happened. That feels reasonable because we can see real people and places, but the photographer chose the moment, angle and frame. Ask what happened just before or outside the edges.
Messages around you
You meet media messages in adverts, news, game trailers, videos, posters and family chats. When you notice the colours, music, words and missing details, you can choose more thoughtfully what to believe, share or buy.
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