Megan Fromm is the Education Manager for NAMLE
What do you do?
I work with various NAMLE partners on projects related to media literacy advocacy and education. This can mean writing curriculum or position papers, providing expert content knowledge for a company that wants to train its staff in media literacy, or even hosting workshops. No day looks the same, which is awesome. I also help plan and organize our conference and Media Literacy Week.
Tell us about your latest work or project in media literacy.
One project I’m working on right now is in partnership with the Education Development Center and SRVCE, which stands for Supporting Readiness through Vital Civic Empowerment. We’re working on curriculum for high school students to engage them in career connections, media literacy, and civic duty/service. Some of the students who experience this curriculum might go on to careers in military service or public service, which is so exciting to me. My husband served in the Air Force, so I have a strong connection to ideas about duty and service, and this allows me to engage in those topics while also still emphasizing important media literacy skills practice. I work specifically on the curricular components—activities, reflections, and resources—that support media literacy skills and learning objectives.
Why is media literacy important to you?
Our mediated world can feel really complicated and overwhelming, and it’s often another layer of “stuff” people have to navigate in order to live fulfilled, happy, balanced lives. Media are powerful tools, and like any tool, we need to learn how to use media in ways that suit our needs but don’t leave a path of destruction for others. Media can empower us, too, and connect us in ways that weren’t possible even just years ago. So my “why” is to help people learn how to engage with and create media in ways that lead to meaningful outcomes, such as vibrant and honest civic engagement, and healthy relationships.
What are you most excited about in the media literacy field?
Honestly, I’m excited that more people are paying attention! I spend less time convincing people of the need for media literacy these days, and more time considering HOW we teach it and what it might look like. That excites me, because that’s progress!
Why did you become a NAMLE member, what benefits do you see to membership, and how will it support your work?
I became a NAMLE member to stay connected and current in the field. The partners, resources, ideas, events and connections NAMLE promotes every day keep me on my toes and help me learn more about the field so I can be a better educator and advocate.
The views and opinions expressed in the M-Passioned Member blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of NAMLE or its members. The purpose of the M-Passioned Member blog is to highlight our members and give them a place to share their reflections, opinions, and ideas.