Media Literacy report released

The UK's House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee published its report on Media literacy yesterday (25 July 2025). Numerous individuals and organisations submitted oral or written evidence.The report: 
- "examines trends in the media and information environment and the need to improve UK media literacy;
- examines the role of the Government and Ofcom in relation to media literacy;
- examines the contributions of online platforms and the media industry to work in this area;
- examines how to improve the media literacy skills of UK adults; and
- examines options for improving children and young people’s media literacy."

I haven't read the report so far, just skimmed through and done my usual search for libraries and for information literacy. Information Literacy primarily appears when the UK's Media and Information Literacy Alliance's submission is being cited or quoted, plus a couple of references to UNESCO's MIL initiatives. Libraries and librarians are mentioned, particularly in the recommendation quoted below, but in the context of public libraries, rather than libraries/librarians in formal education. The report makes a number of recommendations, including embedding media literacy in the school curriculum.
This is the recommendation that mentions libraries most prominently.
"The Government is right to identify the importance of supporting people’s digital skills at their points of interaction with public services. Libraries and librarians are particularly well placed to provide media literacy education for adults as they already serve the information and literacy needs of local communities. We were pleased to see the Government highlight the role of public libraries in its digital inclusion action plan. (Paragraph 175)
"We support efforts to strengthen the ability of local organisations and public services to provide media literacy training. We restate that this must be seen as complementary to, but distinct from, digital inclusion initiatives. We recognise, however, that frontline services and community groups are already stretched in assisting users with other, urgent matters and have limited capacity to take on additional responsibilities. (Paragraph 176)
"The Government’s digital inclusion action plan should build media literacy competencies by enabling more consistent support—for example through leveraging platforms’ funding—for initiatives delivered locally or through public services. The Government must ensure that in relying on trusted local stakeholders for delivery, it does not place further strain on frontline services and community groups without providing additional funding and support. (Paragraph 177)" (p.7)
You can read the report online or in pdf. This is the page with links to submitted evidence as well as to the final report https://committees.parliament.uk/work/9030/media-literacy/publications/
Photo by Sheila Webber: orange rose, July 2025