Media and
Information Literacy
Lesson 5: Media and Information Languages
Today’s Lesson
•Language and Media
•Media Languages
•Media Codes, Conventions, and
Messages
•Producer, Stakeholders, and Audience
What is a LANGUAGE?
Language
A system of arbitrary, vocal symbols that permit all people in a
given culture, or other people who have learned the system of
that culture to communicate or to interact (Finnochioro, cited
in Jian, 2010)
How is Language Defined in Media?
Pertains to the technical and
symbolic ingredients or codes
and conventions that media and
information professionals may
select and use in an effort to
communicate ideas, information
and knowledge.
Media Languages
• Codes, conventions, formats, symbols and
narrative structures that indicate the meaning of
media messages to an audience.
• Denotes how media producers make meaning
about a certain medium they are producing and
how they transfer that meaning to their target
audience.
• Allows the audience to convey the meaning of the
text through its signs and symbols.
Interpreting Media Language
Denotative Meaning Connotative Meaning
Various interpretations that
Literal meaning of the media media suggest to the audience
which are often associated
with culture, values, beliefs,
etc.
Media Codes,
Conventions, and
Messages
Media Codes
Tools used to construct or
suggest meaning in media
forms and product that have a
commonly established
meaning to the target
audience.
TYPES OF MEDIA CODES
Technical Codes Symbolic Codes Written Codes
Technical Codes
Codes specific to a media
form alone.
Technical Codes in Media
High-angle shots Low-angle shots
Technical Codes in Media
Close-up shots Extreme Close-upshots
Technical Codes in Media
Lighting
Technical Codes in Media
Sound
Symbolic Codes
The meaning of the product is
not based on the product itself
but on the interpretation of
the audience; audience-based.
Symbolic Codes in Media
Settings Color
Symbolic Codes in Media
Iconic Symbols
Symbolic Codes in Media
Language Clothing Actions
Symbolic Codes in Media
Mise en scene
Written Codes
Formal written language
used in creating a media
product
Written Codes in Media
Text in Frame
Written Codes in Media
Dialogue
Media Conventions
Possible methods in
which codes are
organized in a product;
based on a standard or
norm that acts as a rule
governing behavior.
TYPES OF MEDIA CONVENTIONS
Form Conventions Story Conventions Genre Conventions
Form Conventions
Ways in which the type
of media codes are
expected to be arranged.
Form Conventions in Media
Title at the beginning, credits at the end
Form Conventions in Media
Tutorial explaining mechanics of how the game works
Story Conventions
Refer to the basic structures of
narratives.
Story Conventions in Media
Story Conventions in Media
Story Conventions in Media
Genre Conventions
The common use of the
elements of narratives such as
the characters, settings, or
themes in a certain type of
media.
Genre Conventions in Media
Genre Conventions in Media
Genre Conventions in Media
Genre Conventions in Media
Culture
Culture is very important in the way we interpret
signs and codes. It is important to realize that
culture always determines the meaning a sign or
code communications
Media Messages
• Pieces of information sent from a source
to a receive; ideas that may arise from
media contents.
• Each audience member brings to each
media encounter a unique set of life
experiences (age, gender, education,
cultural upbringing, etc.) which, when
applied to or combined with the text
create unique interpretations.
Examples of Media Messages
Media Producers,
Stakeholders, and
Audience
Media Producers
• People engaged in the process of creating and putting
together media content to make a finished media
product.
• Must possess the skill in assessing the media texts and
have a thorough understanding of the target product
and the processes that go into creating them.
Media Stakeholders
People or organizations that share the same interests or intentions.
Audience
Group of consumers for
whom a media messages
was constructed as well as
anyone else who is
exposed to the message.
