When I wrote down Media, Self, and Society on my Scholars preference list, I did not fully understand what the program was about. Now, after three semesters of this program, I can appreciate the interconnectedness between myself, media, and the society. I interact with many different forms of media everyday. I check social media, watch the news on television, read articles online, and more. It is important to understand where media content comes from and the influence it can have on our lives. I have learned the importance of fact-checking and asking myself if the source is reliable before jumping to conclusions. Being part of Media Scholars has given me perspective on how media not only impacts my life, but how it impacts the society around me. People interact with all different types of media. Some people rely heavily on one network or one source for their news, and others seek many news outlets. Regardless, the media has an impact on our opinions. The content we see in the media is reflective of current events in our society. However, current events in our society are reflective of the content we see in the media. Understanding this circular flow of information is imperative to understanding the role of media in our lives and society.

        Media Scholars has given me a new lens of how to look at different types of media. One assignment in particular, Adbusters Analysis, gave me an opportunity to dive deeper into critical analysis of advertisements. For this assignment, my group and I analyzed specific advertisements by four different large companies: McDonalds, Apple, Subaru, and CoverGirl. We broke down each advertisement to analyze their denotative and connotative meanings. By digging deeper into these advertisements, we were able to identify what the companies were really selling in each advertisement. For example, Subaru was not just selling an SUV, they were selling the “perfect family” that this product would create. This assignment is just one example of how Media Scholars has given me a new perspective on media and how to critically analyze content.

        One aspect of media content that I have seen to be harmful in society is misinformation. Misinformation can be posted anywhere, but is commonly found on social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter. People have the ability to post almost anything on these sites, and this can create false information. I have seen firsthand how media content can influence individual views and societal views. These social media sites try to catch this misinformation and label it as such so consumers do not get fooled. However, the system is not foolproof, and people may see misinformation before it is labeled as that or taken down. For this reason, I fact-check any articles or information I see on social media with multiple other sources before drawing any conclusions. However, it is these same sites that can be very helpful to society. Social media provides rapid spread of information, which can be very helpful. Media Scholars has given me the knowledge and practice in identifying the harm and help in media content to myself and society.

        Being a critical consumer and producer of media as opposed to a passive consumer means to be deliberate and factual with media content. This means not settling for the first piece of information you see, but striving to uncover the facts and root of the story. When it comes to producing media, I believe it is important to only produce content if you can be sure it is factual. Consuming media is different. There are sources and news outlets that have reputations for being biased or not biased. Part of being a critical consumer of media is not only consuming biased media, but seeing all views to generate your own opinion. I believe that I am a critical consumer of media as I have become more aware of biases in the media, and make sure I develop opinions based off of many sources.

        Being part of Media Scholars has undoubtedly challenged my beliefs and opinions. I believe that the best part of Scholars is being in the living-learning community. Since the University of Maryland is such a large campus with thousands of students, having a smaller community made the transition to college much easier. In addition, it was great to be surrounded by students that care about school as much as I do. With all of these Scholars in one community, intelligent discussions happen frequently. In fact, I remember the first week of my freshman year, I got into a scientific discussion with someone who ended up being a great friend of mine. The Scholars community fosters an inclusive, intellectual environment both in and out of the classroom. In the classroom, I learned so much about media, but more importantly, I learned about the importance of perspective and seeing the bigger picture. I also gained this insight outside of the classroom. My friends that lived on my floor were a mix of different Scholars programs. We were all different majors with unique interests and experiences. This diversity of academics enabled me to learn from all different people who had different views. My learning definitely was improved by interacting with other students, but especially students in Media Scholars.

        Scholars encourages active contribution both in and out of the classroom. Within the classroom, there are lots of group projects that provide opportunities to work with other students. In addition, there are many field trip opportunities that further our in class discussions. Last year, I remember going to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. We had discussed different forms of media with a focus on African Americans prior to our field trip, but just recently I recalled this experience for a class project. We were discussing how race and ethnicity are portrayed in the media, and I remembered going to the museum and seeing the history of African American culture. It is opportunities like these that have stuck with me and continue my learning even a year after the field trip. This is just one example of how I have contributed to the Media Program and applied my learning.

        My Scholars experience will inform my future in many ways. I have already, and will continue to, apply my knowledge from Media Scholars to other courses in college. I will use my critical analysis skills in other classes and in my professional career. There have been so many lessons that have stuck with me from Media Scholars, but the most important is to have perspective. It is so important to have perspective in all aspects of life. I have truly gained so much from being in Media, Self, and Society, and I will always remember my experiences from this Scholars Program.