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I believe in the power of media to bring people together, to enhance cross-cultural understanding, and to inspire creativity. This has been a thread throughout my career. This is also why I care deeply about media content for children. It is only by understanding the power and influence of media that one can direct that influence toward positive ends. Since media permeates all aspects of life, media literacy is a skill important for everyone, from young children through adults. This is why my media literacy efforts focus on helping our youngest media consumers to become media literate. Through my college courses, I encourage students to bring more thoughtful choices to their media use. Through my writing and consulting and my work with the UNESCO Global MIL Alliance, I work with organizations, NGO’s and parents to consider media influence. Through my podcast, Kids Talk Media, I let children share their joys and concerns about media. Although it is important to understand how media regulations and media content and social media influencers differ from country to country, it is also important to shed light on the similarities and the ways in which we can collaborate to effect positive (media) change. My work with media literacy comes from a deep commitment to help others understand and create media that brings joy, knowledge and connectedness to their lives.

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   Sherri currently serves as Director of the Center for Media and Information Literacy (CMIL) at Temple University, USA where she is an Associate Professor in the Klein College of Media and Communication. She also serves as vice-chair for UNESCO's MIL Alliance (GAPMIL), international steering committee. Sherri’s teaching and consulting centers on the business of media, with a focus on children's media and media literacy. She has worked with Google Kids & Family, the Digital Communications Network (DCN), Nickelodeon, Participant Media, YouTube Kids, PBS Kids, the National Association for Media Literacy Education, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, among others.

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Current projects:

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  • Kids Talk Media podcast

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  • Development of Certificate in Children's Media for Temple University

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  • Media Inside Out television talk show​

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  • Fulbright Global Scholar, research on children and media

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  • Philly Youth Media Collaborative 

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  • Maryland Public Television media literacy initiative

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  • PBS Kids development of media literacy framework

 

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Sherri serves as Director of the Center for Media and Information Literacy (CMIL) at Temple University, USA where she is associate professor in the Klein College of Media and Communication. The CMIL is recognized as a global chair of media and information literacy by the United Nations (UNESCO & UNAOC). Sherri is vice chair of the Global Media and Information Literacy Alliance international steering committee, a UNESCO-initiated alliance of over 600 organizations from 80 countries. Sherri’s teaching and consulting centers on the business of media and media literacy, with a focus on children's media. She is currently consulting on projects with PBS Kids, the Digital Communications Network, and Thessaloniki International Media Summer Academy. She is an official "collaborator" of the Center for Scholars and Storytellers at UCLA.

 

Sherri received a Fulbright Global Scholar award for 2022-2023. She will be collaborating with scholars and media industry leaders in Brazil, Australia and the United Kingdom to research best practice in developing inspiring media content for children.

 

Sherri talks with kids about the influence of media in their lives on her podcast Kids Talk Media and discusses issues facing children's media and media literacy with guests on her television series, Media Inside Out. Sherri regularly presents internationally on media literacy and children’s media topics. She has given talks and presentations on five continents and over 20 countries. She has moderated panels at major universities and conferences, including the Children’s Global Media Summit, World Summit on Media for Children, UNESCO Global Media and Information Literacy conferences, International Media Literacy Research Symposium, National Association for Media Literacy Education and UK Children’s Media Conference. She has been interviewed by major news outlets about media and children, including Variety, Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor, Philadelphia Inquirer, Radio Times (NPR), and KQED Mindshift. She appeared in the documentary "Trust Me" from award winning director Roko Belic.

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Sherri’s publications include a co-authored chapter in Media Literacy in a Disruptive Media Environment (2020) titled, “A Snapshot: the state of media literacy education in the US”; and a chapter in the latest edition of 20 Questions about Youth and the Media (2019) titled, “How are the needs of children considered in children’s media?”. She served as co-editor of the international yearbook on Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue for several years. Sherri was a 3-term president of the National Association for Media Literacy Education.

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Sherri serves as chair of the International Programs faculty senate committee for Temple University. She has spent several semesters abroad as faculty director of the Klein College study abroad program in London and as summer faculty for Temple Rome, as well as visiting faculty at the Thessaloniki International Summer Media Academy in Greece, affiliated with Aristotle University. http://www.joursummerschool.org/

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Sherri holds a master’s degree in public culture from the University of Pennsylvania.  Her research explored the impact of children’s television on the social development of girls and their ability to form diverse friendships. Sherri began her career as a television producer. She held various production and management positions over twenty-five years, including CEO of Independence Public Media Television in Philadelphia.

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