Sherri Hope Culver, professor of media studies and production, will use her new position to integrate media and information literacy efforts across the city.
Sherri Hope Culver has been recognized for her efforts to advance media literacy by being named a UNESCO Chair on Media and Information Literacy.
Photo by Ryan S. Brandenberg
As exciting digital and technology efforts are strengthening throughout Philadelphia, Sherri Hope Culver, professor of instruction in media studies and production at the Klein College of Media and Communication, is spearheading efforts to integrate media and information literacy (MIL) into all areas of the city.
Culver, who also directs the Center for Media and Information Literacy (CIML), has long been a leader in advancing MIL efforts through teaching, research and practice. For this work, and for her collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Culver was recently named a UNESCO Chair on Media and Information Literacy.
“The chair title is a combination of recognition of work that you’ve done and organizational support to take what you’re focused on and broaden it,” Culver said.
In Culver’s case, she plans to broaden her MIL research and education efforts throughout the university and the city of Philadelphia.
Media literacy encompasses the set of critical thinking skills used in both creating and interacting with media. The National Association for Media Literacy Education defines media literacy as “the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create and act using all forms of communication.”
“There’s no question that most people understand that media is very influential in their lives,” Culver said. “That aspect is almost a no-brainer for most people. The question is: Then what?”
Culver is already at the forefront of conversations about MIL, particularly in the children’s media space. She learns about children’s relationships to media by talking directly with them on her Kids Talk Media podcast.
“I’m interested in how we talk to children about media in their lives from the youngest age possible, including social media, books, television, news, podcasts—all of it,” she continued. “I want to help them grow up with an understanding that using media also means thinking deeply about it. We can start building MIL skills in children from the minute they start using media by focusing on age-appropriate approaches. Even preschool children can be taught basic MIL skills by focusing on the video games, fairy tales and books in their lives.”
Culver will continue to explore all aspects of MIL with her UNESCO chair designation. A UNESCO chair is an expert who holds a leading role in higher education or research institutions. The chair collaborates with UNESCO to explore new knowledge on a specific aspect of various themes; in the case of Temple University, under the leadership of Culver, the topic is media and information literacy and AI.
“Sherri Hope Culver has been involved in promoting MIL learning and research for over two decades,” said Alton Grizzle, program specialist at UNESCO. “She is one of the stalwarts, having founded the CMIL. This was one of the first centers of its kind at a time when UNESCO was mobilizing actors globally to set up sustainable MIL initiatives. Her commitment and creativity in promoting MIL at Temple University and globally are to be commended.”
Culver plans to continue using her collaborative spirit and passion for MIL to embark on a new endeavor that has the power to create new MIL pathways for Philadelphians, particularly in education settings.
“One of my goals for this chair designation is to help Philadelphia be recognized by UNESCO as an MIL city,” she shared.
The Media and Information Literacy City initiative focuses on making city actors—including healthcare, transportation, entertainment, cultural sites, media, commercial centers and markets—avenues for creative MIL learning in day-to-day city life.
To take steps toward earning Philadelphia this designation, Culver plans to start by gathering information about the MIL efforts happening across Temple’s campus and eventually throughout the entire city of Philadelphia, starting with reaching out to her colleagues across the university already committed to MIL efforts. MIL-related events, workshops with local families and meetings with city leaders will establish a framework to position Philadelphia as an MIL City.
“If I could wave my magic wand in Philadelphia, every grade level at every Philadelphia school would have integrated a media literacy curriculum,” Culver shared.
“There’s a big difference between consuming media thoughtlessly and consuming media thoughtfully,” she continued. “For us to be more media and information literate and have a little more control over the impact of media in our lives means giving it the attention and critical thinking it deserves.”