What is the Salzburg Academy?

The Salzburg Academy on Media & Global Change is a three-week summer academy that gathers 60 university level students and a dozen faculty from 5 continents to explore media’s role in global citizenship.

The Salzburg Academy is conceived to answer two of the most pressing questions of our time: “How do news media affect our understanding of ourselves, our cultures, our politics?” and “How can we use media to better cover global problems and to better report on possible solutions?” 

Students and faculty work together to create a series of curricular products around the connections between global media, freedom of expression, and civil society–what the Academy calls "Global Media Literacy."

What is Global Media Literacy?

Global Media Literacy (GML) is an educational concept aimed at engaging individuals with the role of information in shaping global society and global citizenship. GML connects critical analysis and critical thought with freedom of expression to elicit a heightened understanding of global media’s role in ensuring civil society.

What is a Lesson Plan?

A lesson plan is a document that can be used to teach about media’s role in the world today. The lesson plans here, called Global Media Literacy (GML) lesson plans, are created by students, for students. They are products of a summer academy in which students from all over the world meet and find ways to help students all over the world ask the same questions they ask in Salzburg. They are meant to be used in the classroom, and are accessible across education levels and global societies.

What is the rationale behind the Academy's lesson plans?

We are providing a new way to think about global media and global citizenship. Our lesson plans offer ways to engage with media through stories that students from all over the world have told. The lesson plans have a path to engagement. They start with a story, then move to an exploration, some analysis criteria, and final resources for further inquiry. Each lesson plan aims to offer new ways to think about global media influence and the role of information in communities and countries worldwide.

How do I use a Lesson Plan?

You can construct an entire course around topics and issues the Lesson Plans deal with, or simply use them whenever you want to engage with a certain topic. The lesson plans can be used online, can be downloaded as PDF documents, or printed right off the web page. They all start with a story, which deals with some media event from around the world. They then offer an exercise for students, followed by a series of analytical questions, and then some resources for further exploration. The lesson plans can be used for a short course session or over a period of course. They are flexible and adaptable to all types of educational settings.

Who are the Lesson Plans for?

The lesson plans can be used at all levels of education, and in non-educational settings. They are designed to be flexible and engaged with on different educational levels. Middle and high school students can use them to talk about some basic media concepts, while university level graduate students can explore some of the topics in complex ways. The lesson plans can be adapted as best the educator sees fit. Take a look and see what we mean.

How can I access the Lesson Plans?

Just visit www.salzburg.umd.edu and register for our site. It costs nothing and takes one minute. From there, you can log in and have unlimited access to all the lesson plans.

What are the 5 A’s of Media Literacy?

The Global Media Literacy lesson plans are founded on the 5 A’s of media literacy: access, awareness, assessment, appreciation, & action. This framework was a created as a way to discuss media from all over the world under one representative framework. We believe these topics can be discussed in the context of any media in any part of the world. Here are what the 5 A’s mean to us:

1. Access to media,

2. Awareness of media’s power,

3. Assessment of how media cover international events and issues,

4. Appreciation for media’s role in creating civil societies, and

5. Action to encourage better communication across cultural, social, and political divides.

How can I become part of the Salzburg Academy?

For institutions looking to partner with the Salzburg Academy, please contact Dr. Paul Mihailidis at pmihailidis@salzburgglobal.org

For individuals looking to attend the Salzburg Academy, please visit www.salzburg.umd.edu for more information on the Academy and to download an application.

What if I want to do research with the Salzburg Academy?

For all inquiries into conducting research with the Academy, please write to icmpa@jmail.umd.edu.

Who can I contact with any questions?

For all questions, please write to Dr. Paul Mihailidis, Director of the Salzburg Academy, at pmihailidis@salzburgglobal.org, or call 516-463-5226 in the United States.