Media and information literacy is highly important because it gives people the competencies to access information and navigate in the digital world that is prevalent today, more than ever. We are exposed to a lot of information everyday and it is fundamental for our everyday lives. We use information for educational purposes, our careers, our personal life and our social life. We use it as individuals, in groups, societies and institutions for solving global issues. It is so important to learn these skills because they give people the best conditions for searching, using and producing information.
But what is media and information literacy in practicality and what competencies does the Global Media and Information Literacy Week want to promote? Unesco states that: “information literacy empowers people in all walks of life to seek, evaluate, use and create information effectively to achieve their personal, social, occupational and educational goal”. This quote is important because it marks the different steps there are to information literacy. Firstly, it is important to learn how to seek reliable information. Then, you should evaluate if the information is relevant for your purpose and in the context you want to use the information in. Lastly, this quote states that information literacy gives you the competencies to create information. This is the last step of information literacy and it is a really important skill to have. When you produce and distribute information it is key that it is nuanced and ethical.
The messages the Global Media and Information Literacy week attempt to convey are also closely related to the sustainable development goals by the UN. The 4th goal of “Quality Education” is most relevant to mention, because media and information literacy result in education of better quality. It is important to prioritize these competencies and to promote media and information literacy. The ability to collect and distribute reliable information, critical thinking and navigating the digital world is essential for the development of a more sustainable world.
Information is being produced massively today and it has never been more accessible. However, not all information being spread is good and reliable information. Disinformation, misinformation and fake news also abound in the digital sphere and it is important to be careful and think critically towards the information you encounter. False information can be dangerous for democracy. It can cause polarization between people, and affect and manipulate people who participate in the democratic dialogue. Therefore, media and Information literacy is highly important. Through these skills you will learn how to think critically and detect fake news and misinformation, so you do not get influenced and reproduce this false information.
Even though information is more accessible than ever, still today, there are many places where the public information and media is limited and where the freedom of press and freedom of speech is so too. It is important to work towards a more democratic and free world, where more people have the possibility to access and produce information. Therefore, it is also important that we celebrate and value the global media and information literacy week and what it stands for.
sources:
- Unsco: https://www.unesco.org/en/media-information-literacy-week/youth-agenda-forum-2023
- Unesco: https://www.unesco.org/en/media-information-literacy/about?TSPD_101_R0=080713870fab2000aeee49a0cd71e71e004abe49ee5f7eb34872a11469a7d14991ab05b95a965bbd08001c0da71430009ad8d231418842350a54832979cfcb5b739a48d38d4f6db7cee0b23a93e4bebdc5dda43368cb327eb00a27537afe9dfc
- UN: https://www.un.org/en/observances/media-information-literacy-week