Our Story

I’m Dr. Rose Lugo, and I founded the Media Education Society because of one powerful realization: media literacy is not a luxury, but a necessity.

Back when I was pursuing my graduate studies at California State University of Los Angeles, I was introduced to a discipline that would change the course of my work forever: critical media literacy. I was studying Television and Film, but I quickly realized that understanding media isn’t just for aspiring filmmakers or communication majors. It’s a vital skill for everyone, in our media age, when media shapes our views, values, and behaviors every single day. And yet, this knowledge wasn’t being passed on to parents, educators, or faith communities—groups who, in my mind, needed it most.

As I explored the intersection of faith and media, I began to develop a framework based on the Common Good—within the guidelines of Catholic social teaching—something that could help us all navigate the overwhelming flood of media messages that so often push us toward division and manipulation. I knew then that if we wanted to protect our faith, our values, and our communities, we had to educate ourselves on how to read the media with discernment, how to question its narratives, how to manage our time consuming media, and how to ensure the stories we consume are uplifting, truthful, and aligned with our moral compass.

Media literacy education is not just a critical tool for personal empowerment—it’s essential for preserving democracy itself. In an era where media shapes public opinion and influences political decisions around the world, understanding how to critically engage with media is a fundamental skill. Without the ability to discern truth from distortion, citizens are vulnerable to misinformation that can erode democratic values, distort elections, and enable the abuse of power. Equipping individuals and communities with the skills to navigate the media landscape thoughtfully ensures that media serves the common good, supports informed decision-making, and strengthens the foundations of democracy.

While working on my doctorate, I had a pivotal conversation with a news director of a major Los Angeles broadcast network. He asked me, “What’s your dissertation about?” I explained that it was focused on teaching K-12 educators how to incorporate media literacy into their classrooms. He stared at me for a moment, then asked, “So, are you telling them?” I replied, “Yes, we are!” His response? “Wow.” It was clear: he understood the gravity of what we were doing. We weren’t just teaching how to create media; we were teaching consumers how to deconstruct media messages, how to understand its power, and how to see through its manipulation tactics.

Unfortunately, Media literacy education is still not yet as widespread as it should. And for most educators, faith leaders, and families, this critical skill remains a blind spot. Despite research showing that students urgently need media literacy training, the vast majority of teachers haven’t been trained to teach it. Even more concerning, many pastors and faith leaders—those guiding our communities—don’t have the tools to address how media affects our time, beliefs, values, and actions.