A Vision For Media Literacy

Over the past few months CfEY have collaborated with Internet Matters to produce “A Vision for Media Literacy 2024.” This comprehensive report underscores the urgent need to bolster media literacy among children and families in an increasingly digital world. It highlights the current landscape, identifies gaps, and proposes actionable solutions to enhance media literacy education in the UK.

The digital age has transformed how children interact with media, presenting both opportunities and challenges. The shift in policy focus towards regulating online platforms has left a significant gap in media literacy education. This gap underscores the necessity of equipping young people with the skills needed to critically analyse and engage with media content responsibly.

Key Findings

The report emphasises the critical role of media literacy in fostering informed, responsible, and safe digital citizens. Key findings include:

• Digital Exposure: Increasing screen time among children and the diversity of content they encounter.
• Educational Gaps: The inadequacy of current educational frameworks to address the nuances of media literacy.
• Parental Involvement: The essential role of parents and guardians in guiding children’s media consumption.

Five Big Ideas for Change

1. Raise the Status of Media Literacy: Integrate media literacy as a core component of the curriculum, ensuring it is prioritised alongside traditional subjects.
2. Train Teachers for the Digital Age: Equip educators with the necessary skills and resources to teach media literacy effectively, fostering a generation of digitally savvy individuals.
3. Embrace a Whole-Family Approach: Engage families in the media literacy education process to create a supportive learning environment at home and ensure consistent messaging.
4. Set Standards and Generate Insights: Establish clear standards for media literacy education and implement regular assessments to monitor progress and adapt strategies as needed.
5. Build a Cross-Sector Coalition: Foster collaboration among educators, policymakers, tech companies, and community organisations to create a comprehensive and cohesive media literacy framework.

Recommendations

The report outlines several recommendations to enhance media literacy education:

• Policy Integration: Advocate for the inclusion of media literacy in national education policies and curricula.
• Resource Development: Develop and disseminate high-quality educational resources and tools for teachers and parents.
• Professional Development: Provide ongoing training and professional development opportunities for educators to stay abreast of the latest digital trends and challenges.
• Research and Evaluation: Conduct continuous research to evaluate the effectiveness of media literacy programmes and identify areas for improvement.

We invite educators, policymakers, and stakeholders to join us in this crucial initiative. Together, we can foster a generation of informed and responsible digital citizens.

For more details and to download the full report, visit here.