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Capstone Project Part 3: Final Paper
Student Name
Florida International University
DS3309: How We Know What We Know
Professor Amy Winters
Date
, Capstone Project Part 3: Final Paper 2
Capstone Project Part 3: Final Paper
Throughout my research in regards to media literacy and its importance in this new
century of sheer media oversaturation, I have grown to view media literacy as a skill that must be
learned to navigate daily life. In a world where individuality is of utmost importance and being
able to be ourselves freely, it is imperative we as a society learn to be media literate so that we
may form our own opinions without being blindly swayed by the overbearing bombardment of
biased media all around us. Seeing the power that media has over public opinion and how easy it
is for it to ensue violence on a global scale has become a permanent change in my own
perspective whenever I see media.
When I researched the violent outbreaks against those of Asian descent across the world
due to how media pushed blame on Asians for the devastating outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2
novel coronavirus (COVID-19), it made me more skeptical of the words and media I consumed
in my day to day life. Once I was able to recognize fear mongering for the scare tactic it is, I
realized I became less susceptible to blind fear and anger towards what I was uneducated in.
Knowledge has always held power and in today’s world of information it’s important to be able
to harness it rather than be swayed by it. I read multiple articles, watched news outlets, and even
listened to highly respected political figures with authority in their own countries push their
biases on their audiences. In relation to the rising hate-fueled crimes towards those of Asian
descent and according to the Human Rights Watch nonprofit organization (2020), “Asians and
people of Asian descent have been targets of derogatory language in media reports and
Capstone Project Part 3: Final Paper
Student Name
Florida International University
DS3309: How We Know What We Know
Professor Amy Winters
Date
, Capstone Project Part 3: Final Paper 2
Capstone Project Part 3: Final Paper
Throughout my research in regards to media literacy and its importance in this new
century of sheer media oversaturation, I have grown to view media literacy as a skill that must be
learned to navigate daily life. In a world where individuality is of utmost importance and being
able to be ourselves freely, it is imperative we as a society learn to be media literate so that we
may form our own opinions without being blindly swayed by the overbearing bombardment of
biased media all around us. Seeing the power that media has over public opinion and how easy it
is for it to ensue violence on a global scale has become a permanent change in my own
perspective whenever I see media.
When I researched the violent outbreaks against those of Asian descent across the world
due to how media pushed blame on Asians for the devastating outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2
novel coronavirus (COVID-19), it made me more skeptical of the words and media I consumed
in my day to day life. Once I was able to recognize fear mongering for the scare tactic it is, I
realized I became less susceptible to blind fear and anger towards what I was uneducated in.
Knowledge has always held power and in today’s world of information it’s important to be able
to harness it rather than be swayed by it. I read multiple articles, watched news outlets, and even
listened to highly respected political figures with authority in their own countries push their
biases on their audiences. In relation to the rising hate-fueled crimes towards those of Asian
descent and according to the Human Rights Watch nonprofit organization (2020), “Asians and
people of Asian descent have been targets of derogatory language in media reports and
