The LAMP (Learning About Multimedia Project) provides basic media literacy skills to the inter-related groups of youths, their parents and educators throughout New York City. Our free media literacy workshops and events demystify the constant flow of media these three groups encounter, bridge the gap between generations, and provide workforce development skills for future generations. The LAMP is a fully registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Each module within a track will be tailored to the age group for which it will be presented. All modules can also be tailored for parent/educator workshops as well.

Commercials and Advertising Track
Age: 5 yrs through high school

Make a Commercial/Break a Commercial: You see hundreds of advertisements every day—now you can make your own! As you write, edit and shoot your own original commercial, you’ll learn how different persuasive techniques are used in advertising. Break down how people, products and ideas are represented and used to sell products and ideas. You’ll learn how to talk back to ad messages, uncovering the persuasion techniques and recovering what’s been left out.

News and Reporting Track
Ages: 7 yrs through high school

What’s in the News?: There are exciting things happening all around you, and now it’s your chance to decide what is newsworthy and what is not. Publish your very own newspaper to discover how and why news becomes news.

News on TV/Video: Get behind the news desk and learn more about television news broadcasting as you create your very own news show. You choose what to report and how to report it when you learn what goes on behind the scenes in a news studio.

Reporting and Podcasting: Reporting the news changes when it is heard and not seen! Find out how when you produce your own podcast of a news show.


Exploring Images and Video Track
Ages: 6 yrs through high school

Video Poem: Explore how different editing techniques are used for sounds and images when you make a video poem. Use your original artwork and writing to learn how different elements come together to make a piece of multimedia art.

Making Pictures, Telling Stories: Learn the basics of storytelling, editing and photography when you take photographs which tell a visual story. You know what order the pictures should be in—but when others look at them, what story do they see?

Documentary and Non-fiction Video: Using a subject of your choice, write and shoot your own documentary video. Explore the different ways that documentaries can be used, along with some basic video editing techniques.

Family Video Workshop: The whole family comes together to make a video memory book. Shoot and edit a video of parents and children interviewing each other, sharing favorite memories and stories while creating a lasting record to be enjoyed now and forever.

Digital Media Track
Ages: 10 through high school

Put Yourself On the Web: Explore the many ways you can present yourself on the Internet through social networking websites and blogs. Learn what to include (and what not to include) in an online profile, and how to build your own blog.

Living Digital: Learn how to make smart choices on the Internet when we discuss issues such as how to maintain privacy and security, Internet etiquette, games on the web, learning on the web, viral videos and more.

Founded in 2007, The LAMP has conducted dozens of free media literacy workshops in Brooklyn and Manhattan, with plans to expand to Queens, Staten Island and The Bronx. (Click here for a map of where we have worked.) In 2008, The LAMP became part of the Incubator program with Fund for the City of New York, and was granted official 501(c)3 status at the end of the year. 2008 also saw The LAMP's participation in the first-ever Internet Week New York and the NYCyberSummit hosted by Speaker Christine Quinn. The LAMP is constantly developing new partnerships and programs; please visit our website or The LAMPpost for the latest information.

“LAMP’s approach to media literacy is both innovative and imaginative.  By unlocking the messages in media imagery, LAMP helped my students to develop critical thinking skills and a vocabulary to express themselves.”  --Amanda Daly, Education Director; Center for the Urban Environment

“My daughter was really struck by how much work was involved in creating a ten second-long video poem.  I know for her, seeing the final product was very worthwhile.”
--Parent of student, Video Poem

“I came away on Sunday feeling a great sense of encouragement that it isn’t too late for me to join in on the Web 2.0 experience.  When one reaches a certain age in the world today, it is sometimes difficult not to feel overwhelmed by how quickly and relentlessly technology evolve. Your help has made it quite a bit easier to grasp.” --Joe Santangelo, student; On the Web

“When I see a commercial now, I notice the words, music and styles it uses to try to catch my eye…Learning all about the persuasive techniques marketers use really helped that.” --Student, Making a Commercial

“I find myself criticizing a commercial or turning the channel when I don’t like it.  I did not do this before [the LAMP workshop].  To me, learning what people exclude from commercials to influence people really helped me realize that not all commercials are honest.” --Student, Making an Un-Commercial

“The LAMP has done great work in getting students, families, and educators involved and experienced with varying forms of media and technology.  In the long term, its programs will be key to preparing our city's children and ensuring that they are ready and able to participate and contribute to an increasingly digital and media-driven society.” --Bill de Blasio, New York City Council Member

“My daughter said this to me the other day: ‘Hey Mom, isn’t it funny how this newspaper puts all the bad stuff about this event in really small print to make it hard to read?’  She never said that before she took the workshop.” --Parent of student, What’s in the News

“When I see a newspaper now, I can’t help but think about how they’re made, what goes into reporting, and what they’re trying to tell me.  I thought that was so cool!” --Student, What’s in the News