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Overview

Jeremy Stoddard is a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison whose research focuses on media and democratic education. In his article "The Need for Media Education in Democratic Education" (Democracy & Education, 2014), he argues that traditional approaches to media literacy are insufficient for the digital age. Stoddard calls for media education that teaches students to analyze how media systems shape political knowledge, evaluate digital sources, and understand the role of algorithms, polarization, and misinformation. His work connects media literacy directly to the goals of democratic education.

“Media education is not a luxury or an add-on to democratic education - it is essential to it.”
Jeremy Stoddard

Key Contributions

The Need for Media Education in Democratic Education

His landmark article arguing that media education must be repositioned from an elective add-on to a core component of democratic education in the digital age.\nDigital Media and Democratic Engagement: Research on how digital media shape students political knowledge and how teachers can use digital tools to foster civic engagement.\nSimulations for Civic Learning: Creator of PurpleState, a political simulation that develops students skills for informed civic participation and resisting polarization.\nMedia Systems Analysis: Stoddard argues students must learn to analyze not just individual messages but the media systems and algorithms that shape what information reaches them.\nTeacher Professional Development: His work includes practical strategies for helping teachers integrate media education into existing social studies curricula.

Media literacy is not enough

Traditional media literacy focuses on evaluating individual sources. Stoddard argues students also need to understand how media systems, platforms, and algorithms shape the information environment as a whole.\nDigital citizenship requires critical analysis: Students need to move beyond being good digital citizens to critically analyzing the power structures embedded in digital media.\nMedia education belongs in social studies: Rather than treating media education as a separate subject, Stoddard argues it should be integrated into social studies and civic education.

Why It Matters

Jeremy Stoddard has been instrumental in making the case that media education is not optional for democratic citizenship. In an era where algorithms, misinformation, and polarized media ecosystems shape what citizens know and believe, his work provides both the theoretical justification and practical classroom strategies for preparing students to navigate the digital information environment. He argues that failing to teach media education is failing to prepare students for the civic challenges of the 21st century.

Key Works

“Stoddard, J. (2014). The Need for Media Education in Democratic Education. Democracy & Education, 22(1), Article 4.\nStoddard, J. (2024). Impact of a Political Simulation in Polarized Times. Democracy & Education, 33(1).\nStoddard, J. (2022). Integrating Media Education into the Social Studies. Social Education, 86(6), 383-388.”

Jeremy Stoddard: Media Education for Democracy

Overview

Key Contributions

The Need for Media Education in Democratic Education

Media literacy is not enough

Why It Matters

Key Works

Democracy & Education Journal

"Spotting Power: Reframing Media Literacy in Civic Education"

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