Media and information literacy – an overview
Media and Information Literacy (MIL) training helps us acquire or improve the knowledge and skills we need to engage with media effectively and responsibly. This enables us to actively and critically participate in civic life and democracy.
What competencies do we need?
There are different approaches to MIL and to the competencies that MIL should foster. DW Akademie defines MIL as a composite of five core competencies:
Access: The ability to find and access relevant media and information sources.
Analyze: The ability to evaluate the credibility, accuracy and objectivity of media content, for example a news story.
Create: The ability to create and produce media and information content, such as photos, texts, or videos.
Reflect: The ability to think critically about media habits, experiences, trends, and technologies, and how they impact individuals and society.
Act: The ability to use media to achieve specific goals, for example launching a social media campaign about health.
MIL encompasses conventional media, such as books, television, radio, and newspapers, which are mostly produced by media professionals, as well as digital media, such as social media, where anyone can publish and join the conversation.
How can we promote media and information literacy?
We can foster MIL in many ways. We can pass on knowledge, for example about how AI is changing the media environment. We can foster technical skills, for instance by teaching others how to change privacy settings on social media platforms. We can also share background knowledge about media, such as how television news shows are produced, or we can raise awareness of issues such as media bias and unethical behavior. All these competencies are necessary to use media and information sources effectively and responsibly.
Media like smartphones and TV are part of our lives from early childhood. Therefore, it is essential to become media and information literate as early as possible. MIL helps children and youths develop critical thinking skills and participate fully in public dialogue. And older people, as well, need to keep up with media developments and technologies to make sense of the communication and the media environment around them. That’s why MIL is lifelong learning.
Why is it important to foster Media and Information Literacy?
There are two main reasons:
Many media development projects aim to improve journalists' skills or promote media viability and diversity. But these projects are pointless if the audience does not consume and value professional media. In order for the audience to recognize quality information and to identify disinformation, they need to develop the five core competencies outlined above.
The second reason is linked to the digital divide. The term refers to the gap in the access to modern information and communication technologies that exist between certain regions and demographics. With mobile internet access gaining momentum in many countries of the Global South, the digital divide is now less about whether people have physical access to the internet or a smartphone, but whether they can use it responsibly and critically to their advantage. This is where Media and Information Literacy comes in.
Thus, MIL ties in with a human rights-based approach to media development. As such, MIL is a prerequisite for enjoying fundamental human rights, in particular freedom of expression and access to information guaranteed by Article 19 of the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
What about digital literacy, is that important, too?
Internet penetration, both mobile and fixed, is rapidly increasing in most regions of the world. For many people, social media is now the most popular platform for getting and sharing news and information. In response to this, MIL projects are increasingly targeting digital literacy.
This article was first published on April 27, 2015. It has been updated since to reflect current developments and definitions.
