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Media Literacy
The Commission has launched an Initiative on media literacy. Media literacy relates to all media, including television and film, radio and recorded music, print media, videogames, the Internet and other new digital communication technologies. The aim of media literacy is the ability to access, analyse and evaluate the power of images, sounds and messages. It would help citizens to judge media content to make conscious choices. The development of their critical thinking will make them to become judicious consumers.
A group of experts has been therefore set-up with the aim to analyse and define media literacy objectives and trends, to highlight and promote good practices at European level and propose actions in the field. FEP participated to the different meetings.
Latest developments: on 20th December 2007, the Commission adopted a Communication on media literacy in the digital environment. The Communication adds a further building block to European audiovisual policy complementing the new Audiovisual Media Services Without Frontiers Directive and the MEDIA 2007 support-programme for the development and distribution of European film. Link to the Communication
At the European Parliament level, the report of Mrs Prets (PSE, Austria) on 'media literacy in a digital world' has been adopted in December 2008. Link to the report.
The European Parliament recommended that compulsory media education modules be incorporated into teacher training for all school levels. At national level, small local entities such as libraries, adult education centres, citizens' cultural and media centres, further education and training establishments and citizens' media can make an active contribution to promoting media literacy in addition to policy-makers, journalists, newspapers, radio and television-broadcasters. The recognition of the importance of media education and media literacy has to be strengthened and all stakeholders involved in promoting it.
Link to the European Commission website:
http://ec.europa.eu/avpolicy/media_literacy/index_en.htm
