As we move into the 21st century, it is clear that we live in the most heavily mediated society in world history. Powerful new digital tools—social media, the Internet, print, radio, television—can bring a rich diversity of information into every home and school. Yet just a few multinational corporations (Big Media) own much of the media that shape our 21st century culture. Independently funded media literacy education plays a crucial role in challenging Big Media’s monopoly over our culture, helping to move our world toward a more just, democratic, and sustainable future.

Free of any funding from Big Media, ACME is an emerging SmartMediaEducation network, a global coalition run by and for media educators that champions a three-part mission:

1. Teaching media education knowledge and skills—through keynotes, trainings, and conferences—in classrooms and communities to foster more critical media consumption and more active participation in our democracy.

2. Supporting media reform. No matter what one’s cause, media reform is crucial for the success of that cause, and since only those who are media-educated support media reform, media education must be a top priority for all citizens and activists.

3. Democratizing our media system through education and activism.

ACME’s unique approach to media education involves teaching students, teachers, parents, public health professionals, journalists, and citizens groups how to more effectively access, analyze, evaluate, and create media. ACME’s success stems from a hands-on approach to teaching media skills, knowledge, and activism in a fun, interactive, and engaging way. Our ACME trainings are led by veteran teachers with years of classroom experience working with students and citizens of all ages. ACME has also organized national media education conferences in Albuquerque, New Mexico (2002); San Francisco, California (2004); Burlington, Vermont (2006); Minneapolis, Minnesota (2008); and Boston, Massachusetts (2011 and 2013).

Browse our web site to get a small taste of our ACME network’s ongoing projects: resources, trainings, partners, videos, and more.