Interview with Dr. Sabine Schiffer: Erlanger Nachrichten
The media can sometimes play a counterproductive role in the acquisition of a language at the early stages of a child's development, e.g. by serving as a substitute for natural language training. Yet if used purposefully, for instance with multilingual children, media coverage and various programs can aid and support parents and teachers. Hereby the institute offers counselling and together with other institutions in the field of multilingual education and language acquisition tailors specific teaching materials.
A one and a half year pilot project (2002 - 2003) aiming at systematically analyzing one national and one regional daily newspaper, as well as a weekly newspaper and a magazine. The project had to be suspended due to lack of financial means. However, thanks to the sophisticated analysis approach applied, the preliminary results can serve as a reference for similar projects in the. One important conclusion was for instance, the fact that analysis of the contents alone is not sufficient if we want to evaluate the influence potential of a given coverage. The media representation of the Muslim participants above all was put into perspective, contrary to expectations. Conspiracy theories did not find confirmation.
A project due to be launched in 2006 in the form of an interactive website www.medienpaedagogik-interaktiv.de. It offers a glimpse into the editorial decision making processes. It will allow you to become an active participant yourself and edit the media materials we present. For the realisation of this project we are looking for prospective cooperation partners.