LESSON 5 Media and Information Languages

Learning Scope

A. Most Essential Learning Competencies:

1. Present an issue in varied ways to disseminate information using the
codes, convention, and language of media

B. Specific Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the lesson, you shall have been able to

1. Identify codes, convention, and message and how they affect the audience, producers, and other
stake holders.
2. Reflect on how important information can be conveyed to create the desired impression.

C. Time Allotment: 1 week

Let’s Begin
Individual Work

Different media and information sources use languages that communicate different messages. In this lesson,
you will learn how ideas are communicated through and by the various media and information sources that
have been discussed in the previous lessons, and how to use media languages in conveying messages through
different media.

PRE-ASSESSMENT

Main Activity

Instructions: For a few minutes, read, analyze, understand and answer the following questions based on
the information learned or read from other sources. Write your answers briefly but clearly.

1. Who evaluates media programs and output to ensure that it will be beneficial for the stake holders?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Why is it necessary for producers of media to practice their code of ethics?
It is necessary for producers of media to practice their code of ethics in order to properly conduct their work.
3. What can conventions do to improve the media, which the audience sees every day?
Conventions can help improve the media by influencing the audience and telling them what to do and what
not to do when handling different types of media.
4. How can stakeholders express their views to the producers of media so that they will provide better
output?
In order for the stakeholders to express their views to the producers of media is, they need to have the same
object with the producers and collaborate with each other in order to provide better output.

Define the following terms in connection to media literacy:

 Codes- Codes in connection to media literacy refers to a communication system that have an agreed
meaning and rules.
 Conventions- Conventions in media literacy are generally accepted ways to construct meaning in
media products.
  Denotation- Denotation in media literacy is having the ability to assess and understand certain
information from media.
 Connotations-
 Code of Ethics-

Alternative Activities

Choose and answer any of the alternative activities given below.

A. Make a description of the following movie trailers:

Movie Description
Rings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=yzR2GY-ew8I
Max Steel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Tf4sa0BVJVw
Jack Reacher
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=aRwrdbcAh2s
Central Intelligence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=RYW47dArUgw
Miracles from Heaven
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=CldGTG6iVrU

B. Research about the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). Give a description of what this group is all
about and discuss their Code of Ethics for the providers and producers.

C. Choose a local broadsheet and have a copy of their front page. Observe and analyze the front page photos
this local broadsheet presents and answer the following questions.
 What is going on in the picture?
 Why has the picture been taken?
 What do you think happened next after the picture has been taken?
 What connotations does this picture tell you?
 If you were to rewrite the caption, what caption would you put under it?

Study Break
Normalization

‘Big Lottery Win’ Warm-Up Activity

Instructions:

Imagine that you have just won the lottery. You have won 5 millions pesos. For 2 minutes, write down the
things you want to do with the money. There is no limit to the number of things you can put down, as long as
you can write them within 2 minutes. After 2 minutes are up, share it to the class.

A Closer Look
Encounter

E
Media Language is the way in which the meaning of a media text is conveyed to the audience. One of the
ways Media Language works is to convey meaning through signs and symbols suggested by they way a scene
is set up and filmed. This is how the media communicates to the audience.
 Let’s Explore!
Now, please click this link to give you a summary of this lesson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AOGcLKZHDk&feature=emb_logo

How is media being produced? Let us take a look at the different components when producing media and the
people involved.

Audience- pertains to a group of spectators in a public event. In essence, the audience of different media
platforms are the readers of print media, TV viewers, moviegoers and Internet users.

Stakeholders- a group of people or organization that has the same interest or concern with a particular group.
This group’s objectives, policies and actions should meet and satisfy the needs of stakeholders, and take their
interest or concerns into consideration.

https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/making-the-case-for-nuclear-power-why-stakeholder-involvement-matters

Producers of Media
 Authors and journalists deliver news and other information to the readers
 Editors collaborate to ensure that the material is well organized
 Broadcast media- includes TV, radio and film.
 Directors- create films, TV programs and radio shows
 Talents and performers

Keep in Mind! Now, let us all remember that…

Media producers aim to offer shows that will capture the interest of the majority
because the success of a TV show or film depends upon the response of its targeted audience.

Ethics- is a set of values observed by an individual based on grounded principles.

Therefore, the codes of ethics serves as a guide for professionals on how they should properly conduct their
work.

SPJ- Society of Professional Journalists. The members of this organization believe that justice and
democracy are important for the public’s enlightenment. To carry this out, practitioners from their field should
observe ethical journalism.

Here is the summary of the Code of Ethics for media providers and producers from the Society of Professional
Journalists.
 1. Seek truth and report it. Journalists should be honest, fair, and courageous in gathering, reporting, and
interpreting information.
2. Minimize harm. Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects, and colleagues as human beings deserving of
respect.
3. Act independently. Journalist should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public’s right to
know.
4. Be accountable and transparent. Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers, and
each other.

Keep in Mind! Now, let us all remember that…

Media practitioners should follow standards and guidelines to ensure professionalism and
quality output to maintain integrity

Media are no longer considered as mere channels that transmit messages from the sender to the receiver. Their
very essences as media are enough to be considered as the message itself. This happens through the use of
media language.

Media Languages - It is a method, also consisting signs and symbols, used by information producers to
convey meanings to the audiences. It is a set of technical codes and conventions to communicate information.
Each medium has a specific language.

Genre- Comes from the French word meaning “type” or “class”. It can be recognized by its common set of
distinguishing factors (codes and conventions)

Codes- These are systems of signs that when put together create meaning.

Let’s Ponder. . .
-

 What would happen if there is no monitoring organization that upholds appropriate

journalism?
 Do you think that to be a media producer, one has to be educated?
 Knowing the ethics of media and its importance, do you think students have to have their own
set of ethical standards as well?

TYPES OF CODE

SYMBOLIC CODES WRITTEN CODES TECHNICAL CODE

The use of language style and Ways in which equipment is used to tell the story
These codes show what is beneath the
textual layout such as headlines, - sound, camera angles, types of shots and
surface of what we see (objects, setting,
captions, speech, bubbles, language lighting as well as camera techniques, framing,
body language, clothing, color, etc. ) or
style, etc. depth of field, lighting, exposure and
iconic symbols that are easily understood.
juxtaposition.
One way to analyze media representations is
through denotations and connotations. Camera shots

Camera angles

Camera movements

SYMBOLIC CODES
Semiotics -is the study of signs
Symbolic codes include the language, dress and actions of characters. An example of this is a picture of a rose
that can signify romance, or a dove as a sign of peace.

To understand this more, denotations and connotations should be understood. What are these?

Denotation is the literal aspect of an information. On the other hand, connotation refers to the meaning or
interpretation people associate with an information.

https://www.pinterest.ph/heartthansin/meaningful-pictures/

Denotation Connotation
A lady seated on the floor with a rose on her head and This lady represents someone who has been abused
some thorns in her body. highlighted by the thorns in her body. She had a
horrible experience that is making her project that she
is fine and beautiful through the rose in her head but
is actually suffering.
WRITTEN CODES

Use of language style and textual layout

 Headlines
 Captions
 Speech Bubble

TECHNICAL CODES

Let’s Explore!
Click this link to know further the 15 essential camera shots, angles and movements.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y0ouVBcogU&feature=emb_logo

CAMERA SHOTS

Close-up (CU)
The close-up is one of the most common shot sizes in cinema. It’s used when you want to highlight the facial
features of your character without any other distractions in the shot.

Long shot (LS)

A long shot is in some ways the opposite of a close-up. It shows the character’s entire body in frame, from
their head to their toes.

Medium shot (MS)

The medium shot or mid shot is somewhere between a close-up and long shot. A typical medium shot shows
the subject from their head to their waist.

Single, two shot, three shot

Another way to categorize a shot is by the number of people in the frame. We call this a single shot, a two
shot, or a three shot, depending on how many people are in it.
POV
Finally, there’s the POV or point-of-view shot. This is used when you want the viewer to see what the
character is seeing or feel what they’re feeling. It can be a static shot or you can combine it with one of the
camera motions that we’ll look at later.

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/440578776039223932/

Camera angles:

Eye level
The most neutral camera angle is the eye level shot. The camera points straight ahead at about the same level
as the subject’s face.

Low angle
A low-angle shot adds some subjectivity to the scene. Instead of facing straight ahead, the camera looks up at
the subject from a low angle.

High angle
The reverse of the low angle shot is the high angle shot, which creates the opposite impression, and makes the
subject of the camera seem small.

Dutch angle
A Dutch angle is one of the most common ways to convey disorientation. For this shot, simply tilt the camera
to one side so it isn’t level with the horizon. You might use this shot to show the POV of a drunk character
stumbling down the street, or in a horror movie to give the impression that the walls of a haunted house are
closing in.

Over-the-Shoulder (OTS)
An over-the-shoulder shot is another angle that can shift a viewer’s perception of the scene. A OTS shot is
generally a close-up of another character’s face from “over the shoulder” of another character and is used to
convey conflict or confrontation.

https://revision4gcses.wordpress.com/media-studies/camera-anglesmovementshots/
 https://nofilmschool.com/camera-angles-and-shots-movements

Camera movements:
Pan or tilt
The simplest camera movement is a pan or tilt. A pan is when you keep the camera in one place and turn it to
the side, and a tilt is when you turn it up or down.

Tracking shot, dolly shot, or crane shot

The key to a pan or tilt is that the camera itself doesn’t move, so the viewer feels mostly like a spectator. If
you want to move with a subject and make the viewer feel like a part of the action, you can use a tracking
shot, dolly shot, or crane shot.

Typically, a tracking shot moves sideways, a dolly shot moves forwards or backwards, and a crane shot moves
up or down. Depending on your equipment, you can use these movements separately, or combine them to
move on multiple axes at once.

Zoom
A zoom shot moves into or out of the frame by using a zoom lens rather than moving the camera.

Random motion
Random motion is used to create energy and intensity, particularly in an action scene. Think of The Bourne
Identity, in which the camera bounces around so quickly that the subject of the scene isn’t even always framed
in the shot.

360-degree motion
The last type of motion that we’ll look at is 360-degree motion, in which the camera moves entirely around
the subject of the shot.

Compound motion
The great thing about camera motion is that you don’t have to restrict it to one axis at a time. You can
combine movements to move in multiple dimensions at once and create more complex shots. Let’s look at two
popular compound shots:

Dolly zoom
The dolly zoom is used to create a sense of vertigo or unease. It was famously used in Alfred Hitchcock’s
Vertigo and Steven Spielberg’s Jaws. In this shot, the camera moves forward or backwards while the lens
zooms in the opposite direction.

Single Take
A single take combines multiple movements, shot sizes, and angles into one extended shot. Rather that cutting
from a long shot to a close-up, for example, the camera might track, zoom, pan, and tilt between a variety of
different shots.
 https://delviewmedia.weebly.com/film-101.html

CONVENTIONS

 Refers to a standard or norm that acts as a rule governing behaviour

 Are generally established and accepted ways of doing something
 They are expected ways in which codes are organized in a product.

What are examples of these:

Story principles◎Form and structure◎Generic structures◎Character and Story Arcs◎Cause and

effect◎Point of view◎The Structuring of Time◎Elements of page layout◎Paper stock for print◎Titles and
Credits Sequences◎Framing of Images◎Story lines

What make up Codes and Conventions?

MISE EN SCENE

is the arrangement of scenery and stage properties in a play. Translated from French, it means "setting the
stage" but, in film analysis, the term mise en scene refers to everything in front of the camera, including the
set design, lighting, and actors. Mise en scene in film is the overall effect of how it all comes together for the
audience.

Elements:

Theme
The subject, or a specific theme in a scene or the entire film. For example: a film taking place in the
1950s; the actors wear vintage clothing and environment and is set to be like in the 1950s.

Props, sets and locations

Props, sets and locations can influence our interpretation of character as contribution to the
atmosphere of the film.

Narrative and Plot

A linear plot - has events occur in the same order they would occur in real life.
Manipulation of time (flashbacks)
Suspense (it is hinted something dramatic is going to happen)
Climax and resolution (main problem occurs, comes to a head and is sorted out)
A sting in the tail (ending is a complete surprise and unexpected)
Open ending (loose-ends left; audience may be left wondering)

Characters
 Sympathetic characters- with whom the audience strongly identifies with. They may share
qualities and values.
 Unsympathetic characters- Audience dislikes them and can cause the increase of sympathy
to main character.
Sounds
 Diegetic Sound- are the raw sounds in the audio-video material (voices, footsteps, etc)
 Non-diegetic Sound- are the sounds that have been added in the post-production stage of
the material

Let’s Ponder. . .
-
 When producing media, as a student, what is your main goal?
 How do you choose the elements of the media you are producing?
 Do you think it is essential for you to know these information even if you do not plan to pursue
film making?

Let’s Explore!
To give you a brief summary of the lesson, click this link.

Concept Checks

Analyze the codes and conventions of the following movie posters.

https://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/features/illustration/how-illustrated-movie-posters-are-making-come-back/

_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
 https://www.joblo.com/movie-posters/2019/aladdin/image-35163

________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

Give It Some Thought

I. Identification
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Instructions: Write down on the blank the correct answer.

________1. Is the information sent from a messenger to a receiver. (Message)

________2. Are the raw sounds in the audio-video material. (Diegetic sound)

________3. Are generally established and accepted ways of doing something (conventions)

________4. Is the study of signs (semiotics)

________5. These are systems of signs that when put together create meaning. (codes)

II. Picture Analysis

_____________________________________________________________________________________
Instructions: Describe the denotation and connotation of the following images:

https://www.pinterest.ph/b4uranks/

DENOTATION CONNOTATION
________________________________________ _____________________________________________
________________________________________ _____________________________________________
________________________________________ _____________________________________________
________________________________________ _____________________________________________
________________________________________ _____________________________________________
________________________________________ _____________________________________________
 https://www.pinterest.ph/heartthansin/meaningful-pictures/

DENOTATION CONNOTATION
________________________________________ _____________________________________________
________________________________________ _____________________________________________
________________________________________ _____________________________________________
________________________________________ _____________________________________________
________________________________________ _____________________________________________
________________________________________ _____________________________________________

III. Essay
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Instructions: Answer each question based on your objective insight and critical thinking.

1. Why is it necessary for a student to learn the language and elements of producing a media.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Differentiate sympathetic character and unsympathetic character and give an example.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Give a brief summary of the SPJ- Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

Challenge Yourself

Instructions:

As mentioned at the start of the semester, you will now have your big Performance Task. Your group is tasked
to produce an audio commercial of a made-up product taking note of the different elements we have discussed
during the synchronous session. Be guided by the rubric below.
 Criteria 4- expert 3- advanced 2- intermediate 1-beginner
Content and The output is The output is The output gives The output shows
Quality of informative and relevant and some new very little or now
Information and relevant provides sufficient information and is new information,
Idea information relevant to some and expresses little
extent or no relevance.

The information The information

The information and idea of the The information and idea of the
and idea of the output are and idea of the story need
output is well presented in a good output are improvement.
presented and very manner and is a bit presented in a good
organized organized. manner but lack
organization
Presentation, Style The output shows The output shows The output shows The output shows
and Creativity creativity and creativity and limited creativity, no or very limited
ingenuity, ingenuity but lacks ingenuity, creativity,
resourcefulness and resourcefulness and resourcefulness and ingenuity,
artistry artistry. artistry. resourcefulness and
artistry.

There are a few There are a number There are numerous

There are no grammatical errors. of grammatical grammatical errors.
grammatical errors errors.
The output look
The presentation of The presentation of untidy and
The presentation of output is neatly output is a but disorganized.
output is very placed and untidy and
neatly placed and organized. somewhat
well organized. disorganized.

References and websites used in this lesson

Media and Information Literacy for Senior High School by Teodoro Feria Revano, JR
Mindshapers Co, Inc Copyright 2016
“Evolution of Of Traditional to New Media” (page 11-22)

Media and Information Literacy

(Enhancing Education through Effective Communication) (page 16-28)
The Inteligente Publishing Inc. Copyright 2016

Media and Information Literacy in the 21st Century

Angelito P. Bautista Jr.; Jessica Mariz R. Ignacio
Brilliant Creations Publishing, Inc.
Copyright 2016

The Commission on Higher Education in collaboration with the Philippine Normal University: Teaching
Guide for Senior High School:MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AOGcLKZHDk&feature=emb_logo (accessed 22 of October)

https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/making-the-case-for-nuclear-power-why-stakeholder-involvement-matters
(accessed 22 of October)

https://www.slideshare.net/arnielping/mil-media-and-information-languages-genre-codes-and-conventions (accessed 22
of October)

https://nofilmschool.com/camera-angles-and-shots-movements (accessed 22 of October)

https://revision4gcses.wordpress.com/media-studies/camera-anglesmovementshots/ (accessed 22 of October)

https://wolfcrow.com/15-essential-camera-shots-angles-and-movements/ (accessed 25 of October)

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/440578776039223932/ accessed 25 of October)

https://delviewmedia.weebly.com/film-101.html (accessed 25 of October)

https://www.pinterest.ph/heartthansin/meaningful-pictures/ (accessed 25 of October)

https://www.pinterest.ph/b4uranks/ (accessed 27 of October )

https://www.pinterest.ph/heartthansin/meaningful-pictures/ (accessed 27 of October)

https://www.joblo.com/movie-posters/2019/aladdin/image-35163 (accessed 31 of October)

https://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/features/illustration/how-illustrated-movie-posters-are-making-come-back/ (accessed
31 of October)

https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/mise-en-scene/ (accessed 31 of October)

http://mediashift.org/2017/04/13-examples-headline-magic/ (accessed 31 of October)

https://www.onlygfx.com/9-hand-drawn-speech-bubble-png-transparent/ (accessed 31 of October)