INTRODUCTION TO MEDIA

AND INFORMATION LITERACY

media are defined (irrespective of the nature and
technologies used) as sources of credible and current
information created through an editorial process
determined by journalistic values whereby editorial
accountability can be attributed to a specific organization
or a legal person.
-UNESCO
Media (the singular form of which is medium) is
the collective communication
outlets or tools that are used to store and deliver 
information or data.
Different Types of Media
Media Literacy is the ability to
access, analyze, evaluate and create media.

Media Literacy implies having access to the

media, understanding the media and
creating/expressing oneself using the media
(Buckingham 2005, Livingstone 2005).
Roles of Media

-act as channels of information and knowledge

through which citizens communicate with each other
and make informed decisions.

-facilitate informed debates between diverse

social actors.
-provide us with much of what we learn about the
world beyond our immediate experience.

are means by which a society learns about itself and

builds a sense of community.
-function as a watchdog of 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.
-are essential facilitators of democratic processes
and one of the guarantors of free and fair elections.

-are a vehicle for cultural expression and cultural

cohesion within and between nations.
 What is Information?

“An organized, meaningful, and useful interpretation of

data.”

“knowledge communicated or received concer-
ning a particular fact or circumstance.”
Roles of Information Literacy

 inform
 educate
 facilitate teaching and learning processes
 provide access to all types of information (often
free of charge, plural, reliable and without
restrictions)
 serve as a gateway to information
 promote universal values and civil rights, such as
freedom of expression and information serve as
society’s collective memory
 gather information
 preserve cultural heritage
 entertain
 Technology Literacy
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) defines
technology literacy as the ability to responsibly use appropriate
technology to:
 Communicate
 Solve problems
 Access, manage, integrate, evaluate, design and create information
to improve learning in all subject areas
 Acquire lifelong knowledge and skills in the 21st century
Importance of Media and Information
Literacy
MIL is concerned with giving people an
understanding of the importance of media and
other information providers in order to:
a) make informed decisions
b) learn about the world around them 
c) build a sense of community 
d) maintain public discourse, and 
e) engage in lifelong learning
Activity

Imagine that you wake up one day and there are no

more media, libraries, Internet and cell phones. In
addition, all newspapers, magazines, radio stations
and TV channels have disappeared. Analyze in small
groups what would happen to people:
How would they be informed now?

A. How would they communicate news, facts, and events?

B. What would happen with the decisions you usually make?

C. What would you – personally – most miss in such a situation?

D. What would society lose with this kind of problem?