This article will discuss if, and to what extent, media educational social work is practiced in the German public access television channel “Offener Kanal Hamburg.” “Offener Kanal Hamburg” is producing and broadcasting programs made by non-professional local residents, many of them socially marginalized groups, like migrants or old people; but also children and teenagers are supported in their 'first steps' as TV-producers. These groups are trained and supported by permanently employed editors. I will begin by describing the role of “Offener Kanal” for media educational work in general. Then I will give a more precise definition of media educational social work – as a part of social work. I will conclude by determining whether the work of public access channels can be described as media educational social work and I will show the role that institutions like the “Offener Kanal” play for cooperative projects in the area of media educational social work.
At a glance
- Grade: 1.0 (1.0 is the best grade)
- Examines media education and social work at Offener Kanal Hamburg
- Applies Kern and Geißler/Hege’s self-reflective work concept to social work
- 23 sources in the bibliography
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. “OFFENER KANAL” AND MEDIA EDUCATION
2.1 “Offener Kanal”
2.2 Media Education in “Offener Kanal”
3. MEDIA EDUCATIONAL SOCIAL WORK
3.1 Introduction
3.2 What Distinguishes Social Work?
3.3 Media Educational Social Work
3.4 Three Fundamental Target Areas of Media Educational Social Work
3.4.1 Encouraging Participation
3.4.2 Educational Learning Aspect
3.4.3 Promotion of Communicative Competence and Authentic Experience
4. CONCLUSION
Objectives and Topics
This article examines whether, and to what extent, media educational social work is practiced at Offener Kanal Hamburg. It distinguishes media education from social work, considers the objectives and conditions of their combination, and explores the public access channel’s role in cooperative projects.
- Public access broadcasting and opportunities for participation
- Socio-critical and action-oriented media education
- Definitions and principles of social work
- Media access for minorities and other underrepresented groups
- Communicative competence and learning through production
- Cooperation and community-based media education
Excerpt from the Book
2.2 MEDIA EDUCATION IN “OFFENER KANAL”
However, the different forms of media should not only be understood as carriers and systems of information, but also as everything that plays a role in the processes of interaction and communication, and in the process of imparting information.
Within the wide range of media educational approaches, it is above all the socio-critical position and the practice oriented position that are important for the work of “Offener Kanal.” The socio-critical position has its roots in the ideological-critical approach that is based on the Frankfurter Critical Theory. According to this theory, people’s own experience in media production ha ve the effect that they are not so easily manipulated and it also provides the opportunity for active participation in the opinion- forming process.
“Offener Kanal” provides a chance to develop a critical and analytical opinion towards the media. By experiencing the process themselves people are able to better assess and perceive the complexity and the technological possibilities and conditions involved in the production of films and radio broadcasts.
The tricks and secrets of media production and the possibilities for the manipulation of image and sound—almost all of this remains hidden to the majority of people, as long are not familiar with all levels of production due to practical experience, for example as a journalist, technician or producer.
In contrast to media educational work with video at schools or youth centers, “Offener Kanal” enables the users to cross the threshold between them and the public. Users have the opportunity to put forward their point of view for discussion by the public and to play an active role in opinion-forming processes.
However, the still relatively small amount of recipients, in comparison to other television stations is still an obstacle.
During periods of conflict, open channels can be a relevant local media for particular groups, but only if the respective decision- makers can be reached, directly or indirectly, by the broadcasts. (Cf. Vogel 1991, p. 22)
The further evolvement of the socio-critical position lead to the development of the action-oriented position. The pedagogical concept of the action-oriented position includes action-oriented approaches while at the same time focusing on the subject and its own experience of media. It does not examine the effects that media has on the recipient but concentrates instead on the way the subject uses the media.
A self-determined learning process enables the user to gain communicative competence by means of practical experience with media, instead of being guided towards a critical opinion by specified methods of education. In the opinion of some experts, the acquisition of communicative competency during the process of production is more important than the journalistic function. (Cf. Enzenberger 1970, p. 167)
Chapter Summaries
1. INTRODUCTION: The author sets out the question of whether media educational social work is practiced at Offener Kanal Hamburg and outlines the article’s approach.
2. “OFFENER KANAL” AND MEDIA EDUCATION: This chapter describes the channel’s organization and public access facilities, then considers media education, participation, minority representation and practical media production.
3. MEDIA EDUCATIONAL SOCIAL WORK: The author discusses definitions and principles of social work and develops a framework for media educational social work. Three target areas receive particular attention: participation, educational learning, and communicative competence and authentic experience.
4. CONCLUSION: The concluding chapter assesses the channel’s role in relation to media educational social work and considers cooperative projects and community-based provision.
Keywords
media education, social work, Offener Kanal Hamburg, public access broadcasting, participation, media literacy, communicative competence, minority representation, action-oriented learning, community work, media production, social inclusion
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this work about?
It examines the possibilities and limitations of media educational social work in connection with Offener Kanal Hamburg.
What are its central themes?
The central themes include public access broadcasting, media education, social work, participation, minority representation and communicative competence.
What is the main research question?
The author asks whether, and to what extent, media educational social work is practiced at Offener Kanal Hamburg.
What method does the author use?
The article develops a conceptual analysis using definitions of social work and media education, applies them to Offener Kanal Hamburg and discusses relevant literature and institutional material.
What does the main body cover?
It describes the channel and approaches to media education, defines media educational social work and examines three fundamental target areas.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include media education, social work, public access broadcasting, participation, media literacy and communicative competence.
Which three target areas are discussed?
The author identifies encouraging participation, educational learning, and the promotion of communicative competence and authentic experience.
How does the article distinguish media education from media educational social work?
It relates the latter to the goals and principles of social work and to a self-reflective work concept, rather than treating media production alone as sufficient.
What role can cooperative projects play?
The article considers how educators and social workers can use the channel’s facilities and technical support while developing projects for particular groups.
- Quote paper
- Dipl. Paed. Kathrin Nina Wiedl (Author), 2003, Media Educational Social Work in 'Offener Kanal Hamburg' (Public Access Radio and TV Hamburg) - Possibilities and Limitations, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/36778
