UA Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health’s Lynda Bergsma Receives 2009 Cable’s Leaders in Learning Award
June 23, 2009
Lynda Bergsma, PhD, assistant professor with The University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health in Tucson, has received the cable industry’s highest honor for creating and implementing innovative ways to educate students and for making a substantial contribution to learning in the field of media literacy education.
Cox Communications and Cable in the Classroom, the cable industry’s education foundation, have chosen Dr. Bergsma as a recipient of the “2009 Cable’s Leaders in Learning Award.” The annual awards program recognizes educators, school administrators, college faculty, volunteers and community leaders at the forefront of innovation in education.
One of only 10 recipients, Dr. Bergsma was selected from a pool of 47 finalist entries from across the country in the Media Literacy Education category -- awarded in partnership with the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to a leader who has advanced the teaching and learning of media literacy concepts and skills to children and youth. Media literacy is defined as the ability to access, understand, analyze, evaluate and create media messages on television, the Internet and other outlets.
Dr. Bergsma was recognized for her her 17-year body of work in which she uses media literacy education as a health-promotion strategy for children, youth and families. Through her projects, teaching, research, writing, speaking and leadership, thousands of people across the United States and worldwide have learned to make healthy decisions in a media-saturated culture.
“My work in media literacy education is dedicated to empowering citizens to think critically about the thousands of media messages they encounter,” says Dr. Bergsma. “My goal is to help people make better-informed and healthy decisions in this media age.
“Winning a ‘Cable’s Leaders in Learning Award’ gives me a significantly increased platform for getting the message out about the importance of media literacy education in today’s media culture,” she says. “Everyone needs media literacy skills with which they can thoughtfully and safely navigate the millions of media messages coming to us every day.”
Frank Gallagher, director of education and media literacy at Cable in the Classroom, notes, “For 20 years, Cable in the Classroom has encouraged educators to use technology as a tool for learning, allowing students to grow and develop as responsible and productive citizens, prepared to compete and thrive in the global economy. This year’s ‘Cable’s Leaders in Learning Award’ winners have implemented creative and technology-rich programs that we are proud to recognize and honor.”
“Cox Cable applauds Dr. Bergsma’s efforts to empower young people,” says Lisa Lovallo, vice president and system manager for Cox Southern Arizona for Media Literacy Education. “She is a leader in effectively preparing our students with the 21st century skills they need to thrive and flourish in the classroom and the world.”
Dr. Bergsma and the other national “Cable’s Leaders in Learning Award” honorees each received a $3,000 prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., where they were honored at an awards ceremony and luncheon hosted by Food Network Chef Alton Brown on June 10. Members of Congress, education and cable industry leaders also attended.
For more information about Dr. Bergsma’s work and photos from the awards ceremony, visit http://publichealth.arizona.edu/News/awards/2009/Bergsma-NationalCableAward.aspx
For more information about the awards and the 2009 winners, visit the Web site www.LeadersInLearningAwards.org