Wednesday 18 June 2025
During the recent Media Literacy Week, we turned up the volume on the power of media! In a world bursting with messages from every screen and speaker, understanding how media works isn’t just cool - it’s crucial. That’s why Media Studies continues to lead the charge in building sharp minds and critical thinkers across every year level in the Media classrooms and in the Media Club.
From decoding clever ads to diving deep into the cinematic techniques of films and documentaries, our students are not just watching media; they’re dissecting it. They're learning to ask the big questions: Who made this? Why? What message is being sent? And how is it shaping the way we see the world?
Term 2 has been all about production. Students have been buzzing with creativity: dreaming up concepts, writing scripts, storyboarding scenes, capturing footage, and will soon begin editing their projects. Our Media Studies classroom has become a space exploding with action.
Recently, our Year 12 students took a field trip to AUT, where they learnt about the importance of the media and how we make connections with each other via a range of media platforms. Students had a hands-on experience in creating a podcast as well as a live TV broadcast, taking up various roles as director, assistant director, camera and sound operators, vision board mixer, auto cues and floor managers. What a fantastic opportunity! We would like to thank the tutors at AUT for accommodating this amazing experience for our students. In particular, Patrick Usmar - thank you!
Later in the afternoon, students toured Wētā Unleashed and participated in a special effects workshop. It was a truly inspirational day, with lots of learning and positive feedback.
On Tuesday 20 May, our Level 3 Media Studies students had the privilege of viewing Ocean at Hoyts Cinema-Sylvia Park, a breathtaking documentary by the legendary Sir David Attenborough, and it left a lasting impression. Described by students Arki Hunter (Year 13, Middlemore) and Sammi Edgar (Year 13, Middlemore) as “life-changing,” the film sparked powerful reflections on the role of media in driving awareness and inspiring action. Ocean is a stunning reminder of how the documentary genre can do more than inform - it can inspire, shift perspectives, and ignite real-world change. As students explored the film's use of storytelling, visuals, and emotional impact, they gained deeper insight into the craft of creating media that matters. This experience not only strengthened their understanding of documentary conventions but also deepened their appreciation of how media can be a force for good in our world.
Media Literacy – Why it matters!
Media literacy empowers us to be active participants in today’s digital world, not just to be passive consumers. It teaches us to question, think critically, and understand the deeper messages in what we watch, hear, and share. Media Literacy Week provided a reminder that being media-savvy is a superpower; one our students are mastering every day.
