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Media Literacy

Media literacy – the ability to critically consume and create media – is an essential skill in today’s world. Media literacy education seeks to give kids and adults greater freedom by empowering them to access, analyze, evaluate and produce media.

Media literate youth and adults are better able to understand the complex messages we receive from television, radio, newspapers, magazines, books, billboards, signs, packaging, marketing materials, video games, recorded music, the Internet and other forms of media. They can understand not only the surface content of media messages (the “text”) but also the more important meanings (the “subtext”) hidden beneath the surface. People who are media literate can also create their own media, becoming active participants in our media culture.

New Mexico Media Literacy Project

Three villains

July 20, 2021
Three villains

Channel One News has been gone since 2018. However, there is concern that some new youth marketing company will try to bring back the company or parts of it. That is why Obligation will release a video series documenting the abundant problems with Channel One. Before the videos start in August, let’s reintroduce a...
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Channel One News converted learning time into marketing time. New video series will explain how it ended.

December 30, 2020

Channel One News was a classroom marketing company. It grew at a phenomenal rate in the mid-90s until it ran into its toughest opposition: Obligation, Inc. My name is Jim Metrock. I’m president of Obligation. I am one of the reasons Channel One News exited classrooms. I am one of the reasons millions of...
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Who are these people??

February 2, 2020
Who are these people??

From Jim Metrock: Few schools are aware of a marketing company called OurCampus. So far in 2020, apparently 8 schools in the Greater Las Vegas area are using its services. This is not a new company.  It is a transformation of an older one that apparently ceased operation in 2018 under a cloud of...
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The 8 schools that have signed up for OurCampus.

January 26, 2020
The 8 schools that have signed up for OurCampus.

Three charter school systems around Las Vegas, NV have decided to gamble on the controversial OurCampus marketing firm. The people behind the failed Skoollive company are behind this new venture. As of January 26, 2020 Pinecrest Horizon Pinecrest Inspirada Pinecrest St. Rose Pinecrest Sloan Canyon Mater Bonanza Mater Mountain Vista Somerset Sky Pointe Somerset...
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OurCampus’s outrageous Terms and Conditions.

January 23, 2020
OurCampus’s outrageous Terms and Conditions.

From Jim Metrock: I actually read this long document.  Principals won’t read this. They won’t think it’s worth their time. They care about their students but not enough to even skim this massive collection of words. School board members won’t read it either. Teachers? No, they are too busy. Parents? No, they don’t even...
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Edmodo’s NexxGen News stumbles into 2020

January 1, 2020
Edmodo’s NexxGen News stumbles into 2020

There have been no news stories about NexxGen News signing up schools for its kiddie marketing plan. Neither Edmodo or NexxGen News have posted any episodes of NexxGen News since early 2019. Obligation will report on any episodes of the controversial school TV show if they are published.  It is looking like this Channel...
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Tones [sic] of problems for NexxGen News.

September 12, 2019
Tones [sic] of problems for NexxGen News.

From Jim Metrock: Some people are good spellers and some, like me, are not. It appears that NexxGen News employees also have trouble with spelling. Take a look at an NGN Facebook post from this week. “Tones” surely means “tons,” a mistake anybody can make. What is troubling is another spelling mistake that is...
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Edmodo’s sponsored content brings controversy.

September 3, 2019
Edmodo’s sponsored content brings controversy.

From Jim Metrock: I copied the content below from Edmodo’s support page so we can document any changes to their advertising policy. Hopefully, the public will become more familiar with Edmodo’s advertising policy this coming school year.  I feel few have been paying attention to Edmodo.   Earlier this year, Edmodo got on Obligation’s...
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How could Edmodo make these mistakes? (2018 EdSurge article)

August 12, 2019
How could Edmodo make these mistakes? (2018 EdSurge article)

Drinking, Smoking and Sugar: How Unsavory Ads Wound Up on Edmodo By Emily Tate     Oct 8, 2018 Beth Freeman logs in to her son’s Edmodo account from time to time to check on his homework assignments. Over the last year, she’s noticed ads peppered throughout the communications app, which is used by...
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No video from NexxGen News since June 10

August 5, 2019
No video from NexxGen News since June 10

The new Channel One-like NexxGen News appears to be inactive over the summer. No post from the company has been published since June 10. We have no idea what the plans are for this classroom, marketing program. Efforts to meet with NexxGen News and Gen Media Partners executives have been unsuccessful. Stay tune to...
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