media education
tours:

Youth Channel provides tours and media literacy activities at Manhattan Neighborhood Network. MNN is a state of the art public access center equipped with three TV studios, linear and non-linear editing facilities, as well as other video production equipment. Come for a field trip! To get started, download and fill out a tour request form

media literacy:
 Youth Channel works with youth-based organizations to facilitate video trainings and productions both on and off-site. Contact Isabel to find out how we might be able to work together. We provide the following services:
  • Tours of MNN facility followed by screening/discussion
  • Media Literacy Workshops - 
  • One-day PSA workshops
  • Training Workshops PSA & Documentary Production
  • Training Workshops Studio Workshops
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DOWNLOADS PAGE

workshop curriculum
We hope that these Peer-Training Curricula are helpful to both new and old Peer Trainers as they try to share their skills, knowledge and passions to other young people. This curriculum is not to be viewed as a rigid schedule, timeline or set of activities that must be followed exactly. Please use, adapt, modify, change, discard things as you see fit. As no two kids are the same, no two groups of kids are the same, and so no one curriculum can fit all of their needs and interests. We have created this curriculum with beginners in mind but you will need to modify to fit your students age and experience, class size, equipment accessibility, space and time constraints. We recommend a ratio of no more than 1 Peer Trainer to 8 students.

Media Literacy Workshop Curriculum
This two-hour interactive Media Literacy Workshop offers participants a chance to think critically about the media we consume everyday.  Through a series of large and small group discussions, interactive activities, video clips and photographs, participants will explore the following issues: media advertising; ownership and content; media consolidation; identity and representation; and the central role media plays in democratic societies.  Participants will also learn about public-access television and the growing youth media field.
DOWNLOAD ALL PRINTED MATERIALS .ZIP 13.8 MB
The included guide is intended to guide practitioners through facilitating a Media Literacy Workshop in 6 parts.  It is not a rigid curriculum, rather a source of exercises, discussion points, and connections that can be expanded or adjusted to suit the needs of a given group.  We hope that you will find some of the pieces compiled here an interesting approach to building on the basics of media literacy.
VIEW THE MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATION ONLINE (best if viewed in Internet Explorer)
DOWNLOAD THE PRESENTATION (56MB - sorry, this might take a while!)

PLEASE!!! send us an email to let us know you are downloading and using our materials.  your feedback is invaluable!! 

PSA Curriculum
This 7-session sequence of lesson plans and curriculum culminates in the production and public screening of two Public Service Announcements. In planning, shooting and editing two PSAís, students will develop skills and habits for successful collaboration ((Communication, negotiation, listening, compromise), media literacy (media as a tool for inquiry & expression) and video production (Camera, Sound & Editing). They will learn to develop a clear message or viewpoint to verbally and visually persuade an audience. Lastly, we hope that by making these Public Service Announcements students will become more socially aware and active in their communities.
DOWNLOAD .PDF 3.3MB
Documentary Curriculum
This 10-session sequence of lesson plans and curriculum, students plan, shoot and edit a 5-10 minute Documentary. Students will develop skills and habits for successful collaboration ((Communication, negotiation, listening, compromise), media literacy (media as a tool for inquiry & expression) and video production (Camera, Sound, Interviewing & Editing).
DOWNLOAD .PDF 2.8MB

peer to peer training:
Peer Training Young people teaching other young people how to critically use the media and tell their own stories guides the work of the Youth Channel.

We believe that students learn best when:
  • Learning is based on student interests & questions
  • Learning is relevant and connected to students lives
  • Learning is fun, creative and challenging
  • The classroom environment is safe and respectful
  • The classroom balances teacher guidance and student initiative
  • Teachers are neither too laid back or too strict.
  • Students feel the honesty, commitment and passion of teachers
links & resources
FIND MORE DOWNLOADABLE CURRICULA & IDEAS

Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy
Media Channel Teachers' Toolkit
Media Awareness Nework
New Mexico Media Literacy Project
Media Minds
YOUTH MEDIA OUTLETS

Harlem Live
Childrens Pressline
Wiretap Magazine
Listen Up! network








Youth Media Distribution, (YMDi.org) provides information and tools that are essential to increasing the visibility of youth made media.

YMDi.org improves the distribution of independent youth created film, video, radio and new media. The short of it is YMDi will help you find your audience. (more) www.ymdi.org
NYMAP
The National Youth Media Access Project NYMAP is an innovative partnership among public access centers from across the country committed to expanding services to young people. Initiated by the MNN Youth Channel, NYMAP seeks to nurture the right of free speech, to strengthen the much-needed presence of alternative and youth voices, and to connect young mediamakers from diverse backgrounds.
(more)