Opportunities, Challenges and Threats in Media and Information

QUARTER 2: WEEK 1
Do you ever wonder what makes technology in business, education and other
sectors so important? The answer to this question is evident – technology saves time
and effort, and most importantly, it improves communication. Technology refers to the
knowledge and utilization of tools, techniques, and systems to serve a bigger purpose
like solving problems or making life easier and better. Technology, particularly the use of
internet, is vital in achieving any business goal as it renders every transaction / activity
efficient, i.e;, achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted resources.
ACTIVITY # 1:
ACTIVITY # 2: Look for the meaning of the following: Write your answer in your
notebook:
1. Fake news
2. Copyright
3. Intellectual property
4. Fair use
5. Netiquette
6. Digital footprint
7. Data privacy
8. Trademark
9. Cyberbullying
10. Computer addiction
GROUP PRESENTATION
Each group will prepare a slide presentation regarding the topic assigned to your
group.
Presentation of each group for 5-10 minutes
Select 2-3 members who will share your output
Each group will submit 5 questions with answers

GROUP 1
A Powerful Tool
Media and information literacy, an essential component of the Senior High
School Curriculum, fosters equitable access to information and knowledge, which, in
turn, open opportunities. It is a field that deals with the effects of various mass media.
Media and information are a powerful voice of the people to express feelings and
thoughts. People nowadays are already media and information literate, but to engage in
a digital society, one needs to be able to use these tools, and inquire, understand,
communicate, and think critically.
A. Opportunities, Challenges, Threats and Risks in Media and Information
Modern professionals, students and adults use online materials to gather the needed
information for any research work. The Internet has made research work easier. Is this a
sign of progress? Some would say that the use of technology is not always a sign of
progress. For them, the use of traditional methods such as government
documents, minutes of the meeting, journalistic writings, eyewitness accounts
and other information sources is more effective than the use of modern
technology specifically the “internet”. UNESCO recognizes that the internet holds
enormous potential for development. It provides an unprecedented volume of resources
for information and knowledge that opens up new opportunities and challenges for
expression and participation. The principle of freedom of expression and human rights
must apply not only to traditional media but also to the internet and all types of emerging
media platforms, which will contribute to development, democracy and dialogue.
Digitalization and the accessibility of information through a wide range of devices have
enormously increased the information resources available to people. The internet
provides numerous and diverse opportunities towards attaining our goals and objectives
in life. It has positive effects in education and in economic growth. For example, online
marketing has become vital to business success, as it has a wider audience reach. A
wider audience reach leads to increased product awareness, which, in turn, results in
higher sales. In education, the use of technology is vital. It makes information sharing
convenient. In addition, educators use it to supplement lessons and to conduct online
classes.
Opportunities
Online Shopping. Through online shopping and by using a web browser, consumers
can directly buy goods over the internet. Consumers may visit the website of the retailer
directly or search alternative vendors’ websites using a shopping search engine. 10
Citizen Journalism. It is the collection, dissemination and analysis of news and
information by the general public, especially by means of internet. Suggested definition
of Citizen Journalism from International Media Support, which references to “untrained”
citizens, on page 4 of the document on this link: https://www.mediasupport.org/wp-
content/uploads/2018/03/Zim_IMS-CitizenJournalism-1-1.pdf)
Online Education. With internet connection, anyone can earn a degree without
having to attend face-to-face class sessions.
GROUP 2
Challenges
Age-inappropriate content. With the unabated spread of media, one has to be very
careful about access. There is a wealth of information one can gain from the Internet,
but there is also content that is unfit for children and young people like pornography and
violence.
Illegal content. The Internet has also been, and continues to be, used by unscrupulous
people to further their illegal activities, like human trafficking, the use of force, force,
fraud, or coercion to obtain a commercial sex act or labor, and child pornography. Some
groups also use the internet to further the ideas of racism and discrimination.
Privacy invasion and identity theft. Data posted on the Internet may be accessed and
used for illegal activities. Personal information may be willing shared as pictures or text
on social media or inadvertently given by users as part of such offerings as games or
surveys. It is important for users to be aware of the risks before they decide to share
their personal data. A way to get sensitive personal information is phishing. It is the
fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information such as username, passwords and
credit card details by disguising oneself as a trustworthy entity in an electronic
communication.

Threats and Risks of Media and Information

It is stated in the Philippine Constitution that each person has the right to freedom of
opinion and expression. This right includes freedom to hold and express opinions
without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any
media and regardless of frontiers. With this right, we can negotiate, chat, and express
our opinions and ideas, provided that we show respect to persons whose opinions differ
from ours. Showing respect means listening to others as they explain their respective
sides and trying to understand their perspective and why. We do not have to agree with
them. Instead of dismissing them, we can engage them in a discussion and avoid being
aggressive. We can disagree peacefully. Furthermore, this simply tells us that we should
never abuse and misuse our freedom of speech. Always remember that an opinion is a
self-report of feelings or personal judgement accompanied by responsibility of thought.
These are some laws against the abuse and misuse of media and information, which
violate the rights of others and threaten them in some ways.
Libel / Slander
A person commits libel if he/she, with malice, publishes a false statement that is
damaging to another person’s reputation, office, trade, business or means of livelihood.
n the Philippine constitution, libel is a violation of Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code.
As stated in this article, libel can be committed in the form of writing, printing, and other
similar means. If the hurtful statement is spoken, the statement is slander. General
example of libel/slander: Spreading false rumors about someone having an extra-
marital affair, damaging the person’s reputation.
GROUP 3
Piracy
Piracy refers to the unauthorized duplication of copyrighted content that is then sold at
substantially lower prices in the black market. It is illegal under the Cybercrime Law,
which states that acquiring any digital copy of any copyrighted material is punishable by
fine from Php 200,000 to Php 500,000 and six to twenty years in prison. The Intellectual
Property Code and the Anti–Camcording Law were previously in place to combat piracy
in the country. Piracy is a form of theft as it takes away from the producers and artists
the rightful compensation due them such as patent/royalty fees, product sales revenues,
etc . In 2011, the Washington-based office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) as
one of the world’s listed Quiapo in Manila among the 21 most “notorious markets” for
pirated and counterfeit goods. It was removed from the list in 2012, but over the years,
piracy has proliferated via the Internet, aided mainly by the ease of access to
technology.

Cybercrime Law
The Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10175) covers all other online
anomalies such as identity theft, child pornography, data misuse, cybersquatting and
other computer-related and internet facilitated practices. This law became controversial
in 2012-2013 since it also criminalizes libel in the online world, limiting certain exercises
of freedom of expression.
GROUP 4
B. Education, Economic, Social and Political Aspects and Influences of Media
and Information Literacy
Media Innovation
What is innovation? It is the process of developing a new method or process or product
that better serves existing uses or start to serve a previously unidentified need. When
we talk about media innovation, it includes the change in several aspects of the media
landscape – from the development of new media platforms to new business models, to
new ways of producing media texts changes in other areas such as education, society,
economy and politics. Over time, there are always areas for improvement and
advancement in media. Innovation in media would mean new media associated with
telephones and communications, computers and internet, virtual worlds, website
games, human computer interface, computer animation and other related media
improvements and advancements.
Influence of Media on Education
Nowadays, media plays a crucial role in strengthening society as it helps us to know the
current societal issues not only locally but also globally. It also enhances the teaching
and learning processes inside the four walls of the classrooms. Media comes in different
forms and each form affects the way people learn and interpret information. Some
platforms can be employed to reinforce concepts and spark discussions, such as short
films, written articles, blog postings, and other digital media. Teachers can use modern
technology, such as an interactive Smart Board, to deliver the lessons and activities.
However, a piece of chalk, blackboard, Manila paper and other non-digital or non-
interactive interactive instruments like CDs and DVDs can still be used to aid teachers
in conducting lessons if the resources are limited. Various media can be used in the
classrooms to hone critical thinking and problem-solving skills. For instance, a teacher
can start and facilitate a discussion on an opinion article in a blog, asking students
whether they agree on the position taken by the author and why / why not. Indeed,
media’s power should be harnessed to educate people – enlightening people’s minds
and training people to form opinions and find solutions to societal problems.
GROUP 5
Influence on Society
Media’s power appears unstoppable. Almost everyone is exposed to countless media
images, advertisements, magazines, etc. With the advent of social media like
Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Twitter, email and the like, we are connected in ways
that were not possible before. The communication line is always open. Because of
these, necessary societal interactions, camaraderie, and development of friendships are
facilitated. The way we now deal with people with different personalities, opinions, and
ideas, the way we access information about human life, relationships, education,
careers, entertainment, and others, and the way we do business to promote products
and services online are all conducted with modern media. These interactions are very
different from before, when the most prominent forms of media were magazines,
newspapers and books.
Economic Influence
The new media has made it possible for any individual to offer products and services
online. The various media platforms are a means to augment people’s income. It is
indeed true that the new media affect the economic progress and stability of the country.
Innovation in media has likewise created new online jobs opportunities such as tutorials
in various subjects, airline booking, art selling, product reviews on YouTube, blogging,
photography and other IT related jobs. Social media was once an expensive platform for
businesses to advertise their products/services. But nowadays, any media-literate
person and business entity can set up his / her/ its own brand to reach people and sell
products and services easily.
Political Influence
With the wider internet reach in the Philippines and the corresponding increase in
Filipino social media users, political individuals and parties and government agencies
have realized the effectiveness and power of social media platforms in terms of public
communication.
Digital Diplomacy, also called E-diplomacy or Digi diplomacy is a government’s use of
social media and information technology to communicate to the public, especially
foreign public. Foreign ministries, embassies and other government agencies have
social media accounts especially on Twitter and Facebook.
Spreading information through social media enables to directly send messages quickly
and cost-effectively to the target audiences, without convening a press conference or
sending a press release to news agencies. Because of this, people now have greater
participation on issues facing the country and the world.
People have become informed about the subjects they need or want. Through media
reports focusing on the government programs, activities, and issues, the public is
informed about the political affairs and functions of the country.
Not all media effects are positive. One of the current issues about social media on
political affairs is the spread of fake news, both locally and abroad. The difficulty of
confirming whether social media news reports are true has led to the abuse of the
medium by interest groups who share half-truths or outright lies, which has led
Facebook and Twitter to remove fake accounts and purveyors of untruths.