INTRODUCTION TO MEDIA and INFORMATION LITERACY

In search of New Literacy Ecosystem

Article 19 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights.

“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold
opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any
media regardless of frontiers.”

The word “media” comes from the Latin medius, which means “middle.: Media is the plural form
of “medium” though in actual usage it is acceptable understood as a singular subject as well.
Thus, we could say, “media are responsible for the information that they disseminate.” And we
could also say, “Media is trying to influence us all.”

Functions of Media

1. Media are more than just channels of information and knowledge through which citizends
communicate with each other and make informed decisions
2. Media facilitate informed debates between diverse social factors.
3. Media provide us with much of what we learn about the world beyond or immediate
experience.
4. Media are means by which a society learns about itself and builds a sense of community.
5. Media functions as a watchdog of the government in all its forms promoting transparency
in public life and public scrutiny of those with power through exposing corruption,
maladministration, and corporate wrong-doing.
6. Media are essential facilitators of democratic processes and one of the guarantors of free
and fair elections.
7. Medial are a vehicle of cultural expression and cultural cohesion within and between
nations.
8. Media functions as an advocate and social actor in its own right while respecting
pluralistic values.

Media Literacy

It is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media messages of all kinds.

Today, many people get most of their information through complex combinations of text, images
and sounds we receive from:
1. Television
2. Radio
3. Newspapers
 4. Magazines
5. Books
6. Billboards
7. Signs
8. Packaging
9. Marketing materials
10. Video games
11. Recorded music
12. The internet and;
13. Other forms of media

3 dimensions of Media Literacy

1. Access – having the use of media
2. Understand – interpret how it works and gain perspective on media content
3. Create – interacting with media

Media Literacy

1. Understand the significant role of media in our society and how largely it influences the
users
2. Able to discern which information is factual, the truthful and objective through critical
thinking

Information Literacy

1. Understand the significant role of media in our society and how largely it influences the
users
2. Able to discern which information is factual, truthful and objective through crtitical
thinking

- Is the skill that allows a person to recognize when information is needed and how he will
be able to access, locate, evaluate and use it effectively communicate information in its
various formats.

3 Dimensions if Information Literacy

1. Identify- the ability to know information
2. Evaluate- the capacity to critically assess the source of data
3. Apply- effective use of information

Technology Literacy

- Is the ability to acquire relevant information and use modern-day tools to get, manage,
apply, evaluate, create and communicate information
- This literacy skill is expected to be more complex and progressive as people demand for
faster and easier access to communication and information

- Easy access to information using modern technology

- Wide sources of information

Media and Information Literacy

defined by UNESCO as:

“A set of competencies that empowers citizens to assess, retrieve, understand, evaluate and
use, create, as well as share information and media content in all formats, using various tools,
in a critical, ethical and effective way, in order to participate and engage in personal,
professional and societal activities”