ABSTRACT
One of the key concepts in media literacy is that all media are businesses designed to make money. If the media does not make money, it ceases to exist. Television, with its plentiful data, offers one excellent way for students to understand the connections between the entertainment media they are served and the advertising/marketing engine that drives the entertainment economy. Using TV as a jumping-off point, educators can teach about genre, math, demographics, economics, media ownership, and, of course, advertising. Television and TV commercials are not going away, despite "cord cutting". In fact, almost every digital device has the ability to deliver live TV today. While network television advertising still dominates, new thinking about TV demographics is quickly emerging and complicating the picture. Media literacy education encourages the kind of critical thinking and questioning that encourages an alert and thoughtful society.
