MIL

DW Akademie Media and Information Literacy

Media and Information Literacy in Africa

How do young Africans access, use, create and engage with media and digital sources of information? The MIL INDEX study provides insights and perspectives.

Media and Information Literacy model graphic depicting the dimensions act access create analyze and reflect

Introducing the MIL INDEX Study

It is DW Akademie’s largest scale Media and Information Literacy (MIL) study to date. What are its aims, methods and approach? This overview provides details on the guiding principles of the MIL INDEX study.

active but uncritical

Media and Information Literacy amongst Ghana’s youth

Ghana’s youngsters are at the forefront of digital innovation, but oblivious to the detrimental effects of disinformation, cyberbullying and hate speech.

Critical but less creative

Media and Information Literacy amongst Kenya’s youth

Kenya’s youngsters are going digital. Although thinking critically, they are not making the most of their opportunities.

Digital natives, limited reflection

Media and Information Literacy amongst Côte d’Ivoire’s youth

While creative and resilient in the digital sphere, Côte d’Ivoire’s youth accepts biased reporting or censorship too readily.

DW Akademie Key Visual zum Handlungsfeld Media and Information Literacy

MIL: Projects, publications and tools 23.10.2021

It’s Global MIL Week! Check out DW Akademie’s media and information literacy projects across the world.

MIL means to me

Purity Jebor, Programme Associate, Youth Alive! Kenya

"For me, Media and Information Literacy means adequate youth knowledge on media for meaningful communication. I wish for reliable, factual and affordable media commodities."
MIL means to me

Cyrille Guel, Director, EducommunicAfrik, Burkina Faso

"MIL in my country means another missing link in the education system. I want to be a standard bearer in the MIL context."
MIL means to me

Obaa Akua Konadu, Researcher and PhD Candidate, Ghana

"Living in an information age, MIL affords us access to information to make informed decisions. This freedom to create and share information, however, should be done in a manner that is ethical."
MIL means to me

Dennis Vincenti, Country Director Burkina Faso, Fondation Hirondelle

"The objective of Media and Information Literacy is to enable students to exercise their citizenship in an information and communication society, to train active, enlightened and responsible 'cyber-citizens' of tomorrow."
MIL means to me

Dr. Sadrag Panduleni Shihomeka, Lecturer, University of Namibia, Faculty of Education, Namibia

"Media and Information Literacy in my country means ability of the users to use, operate, create, share, design, educate, advocate and mobilise each other ethically on issues concerning their community by using various media and technological devices. I wish for ethical and guided democratic adoption in the context of MIL."
MIL means to me

Gerald Businge, Executive Director, Ultimate Multimedia, Uganda

"MIL to me is having the ability to appreciate how the news and information one consumes is gathered or prepared, packaged and disseminated. It is knowing the who, what, where, when, why and how of news and information so we can critically appreciate what is in publications, radio, television, on websites or social media. It is also about knowing the operational realities of media outlets."
MIL means to me

Gwen Lister, Executive Chairperson, Namibian Media Trust, Namibia

"In this age of prolific disinformation, Media Literacy is of paramount importance. Risks associated with the consumption of disinformation can't be underestimated. There is scant chance of building knowledge-based societies and empowering active citizens when their opinions are influenced by lies and propaganda. These are just some of the reasons why support of Media Literacy remains important."
MIL means to me

Ian Mark Kimanje, CEO, African Children's Television & Film Foundation, Uganda

"All media share one thing, 'someone created it and it was created for a reason'. Media and Information Literacy gives our foundation and me, the opportunity to advocate and explain that reason to children and youth in Uganda and all over Africa, so that they can make up their own minds about the information based on knowledge presented."
MIL means to me

Nesmon Delaure, Journalist, Pole Afrique.info, Côte d'Ivoire

"For me, MIL in my country means raising awareness among Internet users but also among people in remote areas where access to information is a luxury. And also, to promote alternative media that take into account young people and women".
MIL means to me

Tanswell Rooinasie, Entrepreneur and Youth Centre Manager, Namibia

"We are living in a digital age where information can be accessed in seconds. I believe that through MIL we can inspire custodians of positive change by creating platforms where our young people especially can access, analyse, reflect, create and act."
MIL means to me

Yannick Djanhoun, Journalist, Tomorrow Mag, Côte d'Ivoire

"For me, MIL in my country means access to quality information for the people, especially the youth. I hope that press companies can be helped to engage young people. Youth is in a better position to talk to the youth."
MIL means to me

Cécile Ouattara Coulibaly, International Federation of Library Associations, Côte d'Ivoire

"For me, Media and Information Literacy is a strategic framework for education and training of young people in the responsible use of media and information for innovation, development and peace in Côte d'Ivoire and the entire world."
MIL means to me

Kwaku Krobea Asante, Programme Associate, Media Foundation of West Africa, Ghana

"Verification is a high virtue. Always be sure to verify the information that comes to you."
MIL means to me

Awo Aidam Amenyah, Director, Child Online Africa, Ghana

"The ability of youth to adapt to new communication forms and platforms, as well as the ability to curate clear messages, is what I consider to be MIL. I wish that the strengthening of digitalization during the COVID-19 pandemic can be sustained and enhanced in the context of MIL."
MIL means to me

Anderson Diédri, Journalist, EburnieToday.com, Côte d'Ivoire

"In the face of the rapid rise of fake news and the crisis of confidence in the media, MIL is a real safeguard today. It can enable citizens to better understand the challenges and constraints of the media and thus make them active players in the information production process. MIL can help build a critical mass of citizens active in the democratic processes."
MIL means to me

Dr. Levi Obonyo, Lecturer, Daystar University, Kenya

"We are all exposed to so much media, we are like fish in water, and just like fish in water may not realise that it is wet, we are often not conscious of this exposure and its impact on us. MIL is a conscious effort to remind us that we are wet and to make deliberate decisions to cope with our wetness."
MIL means to me

Wallace Gichunge, Founder, Center for Media & Information Literacy, Kenya

"MIL in my country means citizens' empowerment against hate speech, fake news, disinformation/misinformation; and improved discourse on a wide range of national issues for me. I wish for local adaptation of international best practices in the context of MIL."