The Global Media and Information Literacy week feature conference, which took place in Jordam 30-31 October 2024, produced the Amman declaration on strengthening media and information literacy to advance public-interest information in the digital age which claims to be currently available in Arabic and English, but at the moment both links lead to the English version. The English version is here. The page with the links is here, and hopefully the faulty Arabic link will be corrected shortly.
After a 2 page preamble there are commitments and recommendations for governments, for UNESCO and other intergovernmental organizations, for Digital platforms and technology companies, and for Civil society, media, youth, academic institutions and researchers.
The recommendations for governments include "ENACT robust national and regional media and information literacy policies and
strategies to sustain media and information literacy for all; allocate resources to
advance implementation, ensuring inclusive and multistakeholder engagement; and
integrate media and information literacy in upskilling programmes, national
development priorities, governance processes;" "SUPPORT the integration of media and information literacy into formal and non-formal
education systems and life-long learning, empowering learners and educators to
critically assess digital content;"
The recommendations for UNESCO etc. include "PROMOTE cooperation on media and information literacy among United Nations
Agencies/Funds/Programmes and regional and international intergovernmental bodies
in line with Para 35 of the Global Digital Compact of the Pact for the Future;"
The recommendations for digital platforms include: "PROVIDE users and content creators with tools and resources, developed in
partnership with multistakeholder groups and based on established standards, to
enhance media and information literacy as critical thinking skills, including flagging AIgenerated
content, and implementing content moderation systems that are inclusive
and free from bias;"
The recommendations for Civil Society organisations include "LAUNCH initiatives that promote media and information literacy beyond formal
education systems, and specifically among youth, marginalized communities and
elderly persons, empowering them with the skills to be informed creators and
discerning consumers of digital content"
There are also recommendations specifically to do with MIL in crisis situations, as well as ones to do with MIL cities.
UNESCO has today launched Operational guidelines: constructing UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Cities. It starts by saying "Media and Information Literacy (MIL) is essential for navigating today’s
complex information landscape. Media and Information Literacy skills directly support the right to information and freedom of expression, whilst also empowering individuals with the skills needed to combat disinformation, hate speech, social exclusion, and racism."
There is a table of 10 MIL Cities stakeholder groups and their potential actions. The 10th "others" group is "families, libraries, community centers, and NGOs among others" and it notes that "Libraries serve as accessible hubs for information and learning, providing resources and programmes that enhance MIL among citizens. Librarians, with their expertise in information management and dissemination, act as facilitators and educators, guiding individuals in navigating the complex information ecosystem."
There is a short statement on how MIL cities can support human rights. There are some short paragraphs giving examples of MIL cities around the world some mentioning libraries e.g. "The city of Gothenburg has been active in promoting Media and Information Literacy, especially through its public libraries. The city’s libraries offer a range of programmes and workshops aimed at enhancing citizens’ information literacy and critical thinking skills".
There is a table showing connections with other UNESCO cities initiatives e.g. Creative cities. Then there are few final pages laying out steps for developing and monitoing a MIL city. I haven't had time to compare this document with the previous UNESCO MIL Cities guidelines, but it does look as though it has built on that publication.
You can download the publication here https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000391748
Today (30th October) is the first day of the UNESCO Global Media and Information Literacy Week feature conference, taking place in Jordan.
It starts at 9.15 (Jordan time, which is, for example 6.15 in the UK, 7.15 Paris time) and the programme is here https://www.unesco.org/en/weeks/media-information-literacy-2024/programme?hub=66833 You can watch the conference on Youtube
- In English here: https://www.youtube.com/live/PlTWPOEamwI
- In Arabic here: https://www.youtube.com/live/rcmxSrqpnH8
- In French here: https://www.youtube.com/live/O6L8meE16lc
IT Girls Rock (STEAM Engine Global) have organised a free webinar Tech Talk: Analyzing the Media Landscape & Generative AI's Impact on Knowledge Diversity which is running twice, to suit people in different time zones:
Session 1: USA/Australia/Asia friendly: 29 Oct at 7pm US EST, 4pm US PST; 30 Oct at 7am Australian WST, 9am AEST.
Session 2: Wed 30 Oct at 7pm AWST, 9pm AEST; Wed 30 Oct at 12pm GMT+1 (so 11am UK time); 30 Oct at 7am EST (however at the moment it seems like you can only register for session 1. Perhaps the same ticket works for both)
"Join us for an engaging event where we critically examine who writes the stories of tech—exploring the diversity of sources, authorship, and representation across gender, age, culture, race, and ability. In this interactive session, we'll assess news and media coverage of technology, diving into the impact of underrepresentation and imbalances in media voices. We'll also explore the growing influence of Generative AI and the "blind" use of these tools in creating content. Does AI help or hinder diversity in knowledge sharing? What are the risks and opportunities of relying on AI-generated media, and how can we ensure inclusive perspectives are maintained? Together, we’ll uncover solutions for creating a more balanced and diverse digital landscape."
https://events.humanitix.com/tech-talk-analyzing-the-media-landscape-and-generative-ai-s-impact-on-knowledge-diversity-unesco
Today's Global Media and Information Literacy week offering is an interview (10 minutes) with Dr. Rihards Bambals, Director of Strategic Communication at the State Chancellery of Latvia, recorded today (26 October).
Go to https://youtu.be/VsM6IdNtoA4?si=R7nnkDRwsdI3_pWF
For Global Media and Information Literacy Week UNESCO just launched a new campaign #postwithcare, that possibly takes over from te previous #MILClicks campaign. "The campaign aims to encourage digital content creators worldwide to reflect on the way they create and share information on their platforms. They will particularly challenge their communities to consider their tendency to accept information without scrutiny due to the influencer’s perceived credibility."
The available items are:
- stickers as images or pdfs, in several languages (an example heads this post) which can be downloaded from a Trello board
- An 100 page ebook aimed at content creators Content Creators and Journalists: Redefining News and Credibility in the Digital Age: https://journalismcourses.org/ebook/content-creators-and-journalists-redefining-news-and-credibility-in-the-digital-age/
- A free online course available in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese: Digital Content Creators and Journalists: How to Be a Trusted Voice Online running 18 November - 15 December 2024 (by the Knight Center for Journalism in the USA) https://journalismcourses.org/product/digital-content-creators-and-journalists-how-to-be-a-trusted-voice-online/
The home page for this whole campaign is https://www.unesco.org/en/postwithcare
At the start of UNESCO's Global Media and Information Literacy Week here are 2 free webinars today
(1) The webinar I'm chairing today 4pm-5pm BST (time in the UK, US EST that's 11am-12noon) Information as a Discipline: what's the difference with me, Professor Clarence Maybee, Dr Karen Kaufmann, Dr Syeda Shahid, and Bill Johnston. It's co-organised by the CILIP Information Literacy Group, the Purdue University Institute for Information Literacy, USA, and the University of Sheffield Information School, Libraries and Information Society Research Group. UK. Go to: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cilipinformationliteracygroup/1381222
(2) The webinar organised by CILIPS Media and Information Literacy Community of Practice: Understanding Information and Media in 2024 24 October 2024, 2-4pm BST. This features: An overview of the community of practice; A preview of the new website for the community; Generative AI and schools; OFCOM and their 3 year media literacy strategy; DigiKnow – Young Scot and the Information literacy of young people; Fear of the Known – Conspiracy Theories webinar preview. Go to https://www.cilips.org.uk/events/milcop-open-meeting/
IFLA's Information Literacy & School Library Sections have organised a free webinar on 28 October 2024 at 15.00 Paris time (CEST, which is one hour ahead of UK time. Note that there will be one hour less time difference with North America that week, due to different dates changing the clocks, so e.g. US EST start time will be 10am). The title is: The New Digital Frontiers of Information: Media and Information Literacy for Public Interest Information through Libraries.
There are three pre-recorded presentations followed by a live Q&A. Speakers are:
- Damiano Orrù (Vilfredo Pareto Library, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy) Librarians for A.I. literacy in Italy: biblioSkill;
- Rebecca Morris (School of Computing and Information, University of Pittsburgh, USA) Be Kind and Save Time: Exploring Generative AI for Creating Accessible Learning Materials,
- Leen d’Haenens (Media Culture & Policy Lab, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium) Balancing Stakeholder Interests in Media Literacy and Digital Skills Interventions: A Guide for Researchers — Insights from the REMEDIS Project
More information and registration at
https://www.ifla.org/events/2024-global-media-and-information-literacy-week-information-literacy-school-library-sections-joint-webinar-globalmilweek-2/
There is a free webinar from the UK's Media and Information Literacy Alliance on 31 October at 15:30 - 17:00 GMT (note - the time difference between the UK and North America is one hour less than usual this week, so that's 11.30-13.00 EST): Building a National Alliance for Media and Information Literacy
"In this webinar, we will share our experience, in the UK, of developing a national initiative to advocate for media and information literacy (MIL), encourage capacity-building and help to build the MIL evidence base. The webinar will be introduced by a panel made up of six of MILA’s trustees. We will address the challenges of raising awareness of MIL across society, not least among policymakers and educationalists; and of fostering collaborations between the different players that have an interest in MIL and associated literacies."
Go to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/media-and-information-literacy-alliance-global-mil-week-webinar-tickets-1040651846687?
