The bulletin summarises media literacy activities by a range of organisations in the UK and overseas. These activities include events, research, projects and initiatives and a range of international contributions.
Editorial note
Thank you to all who shared their updates for this edition of the Making Sense of Media bulletin. We have provided points of contact wherever possible, for the purposes of collaboration between network members.
A reminder that these updates are provided by our network members and reflect their individual views and contributions. Inclusion here does not imply endorsement by Ofcom.
Previous bulletins are available upon request.
Final media literacy three-year strategy, statement and annual plan published
The Making Sense of Media programme has published three key documents setting out our work towards our goal of making media literacy everyone’s business. They are:
- A Positive Vision for Media Literacy, our three-year strategy where we set out at a high level what we will focus on to discharge our media literacy duties from 2024-2027. We published a draft version of the strategy in April which we consulted on in May and June.
- A Statement which explains the decisions we’ve taken and how we have taken account of the feedback we received through the consultation process.
- An Annual Plan which provides more detail on our work for the coming year.
We’d like to thank those of you who attended our events in the summer and responded to our call for responses to the draft strategy.
Four online services have pledged to adopt Ofcom’s best practice principles for promoting media literacy on-platform
Developing strong media literacy skills can help internet users engage with online services critically, safely and effectively. Online services have an important role to play in empowering people to make informed decisions about what they do online, including by offering users helpful tools and features such as prompts and notifications.
Google Search, The LEGO Group, Pinterest and Roblox have voluntarily signed up to adopt Ofcom’s Best Practice Principles for Media Literacy by Design, which have been developed in collaboration with expert representatives from industry, civil society and the academic community. In brief, the services pledge to adopt three common principles:
- become accountable for making media literacy a priority on-platform, and increase transparency surrounding what works when it comes to media literacy;
- develop user-centric design and timely ways to put user needs at the centre of the design process; and
- monitor and evaluate media literacy activities on an ongoing basis.
By signing up to adopt the principles, these services are committing to improving and adapting their approach to align more closely with best practice.
As part of the pledge, the services have submitted examples of how they are already implementing media literacy by design on their services, and areas they would like to focus on in the future. The examples submitted have been published and provide a benchmark against which future progress can be kept under review, and represents a public commitment to ongoing, accountable action.
Ofcom encourages other online service providers to publicly demonstrate their commitment to their users’ media literacy by signing up to the pledge.
Join us at our winter conference in central London
The Making Sense of Media team is holding its annual winter conference ‘Good news, bad news or no news?’ on Wednesday 27 November 2024.
Join thought leaders, experts and practitioners at this free, day-long event in central London to explore all things mis and disinformation, news and elections.
Use this link to sign up. Details on speakers, and the agenda, will be published soon.
What works in delivering media literacy activities - webinars
Come along to our three webinars and hear from the organisations featured in our recent report. The events will focus on the cohorts outlined in the report including a panel discussion with the expert organisations and a question-and-answer session. Click on the date and time to register for each event.
- Thurs 17 October 4-5.30pm What works for older adults’ media literacy?
- Thurs 7 November October 12.30-2pm What works for children and young people’s media literacy?
- Thurs 21 November 12.30-2pm What works in media literacy for Disabled people and people with learning disabilities?
Join us online in Global MIL week for the launch of our bank of outcomes
Sign up for an online session at 11am on 24 October where we will share the latest extension to our Evaluation Toolkit – our bank of outcomes, indicators and survey questions.
The resource comprises a set of 24 outcomes with example indicators and survey questions, structured around five areas, each corresponding with a different aspect of media literacy. It can assist with initial planning by helping you choose appropriate outcomes for project activities and provide inspiration for indicators and data collection.
In this webinar we will introduce the resource, explain how we went about putting it together and share details of workshops we will be running this winter to explain more about how you might use it.
Children’s digital play and wellbeing
In May, the University of Sheffield was delighted to launch its research on children's digital play and wellbeing. The findings are presented in our mini-site, where you can also access our research reports (under 'All publications'). For more information contact Dr Fiona Scott.
Exploring effective methods to prevent the sharing of ‘self-generated’ child sexual abuse
Internet Matters has worked with young people, parents and professionals to understand how preventative messaging can be designed and deployed to prevent the sharing of ‘self-generated’ child sexual abuse material among pre-teens. This research explores effective prevention methods. For more information contact Katie Freeman-Tayler.
Report explores challenges of digital inclusion work on the frontline
The Mhor Collective has published an insight report exploring the challenges of digital inclusion work for frontline organisations in supporting women and girls who are victims of violence. For more information contact Mhorcollective.
UK adults’ perspectives on the potential of emotional AI tech for manipulating people
With growing interest in the use of AI to profile and interact with human emotion (“emotional AI”), this paper from the Emotional AI Lab ascertains UK adults’ perspectives on the potential of emotional AI technologies for manipulating people. For more information contact Professor Vian Bakir.
How do people navigate numerical dis and misinformation
A new article from the Everyday Misinformation Project at the Online Civic Culture Centre at Loughborough University explores how people navigate numerical dis and misinformation on personal messaging platforms. For more information contact Professor Andrew Chadwick.
Understanding parents’ views on smartphone and social media use
In response to recent debate on restricting children’s smartphone and social media use, Internet Matters commissioned research to understand UK parents’ views on this topical issue. The Digital Dilemmas Report brings together the findings and highlights the nuanced views of a range of parents. For more information contact Katie Freeman-Tayler.
Panel exploring what Information Literacy means as a discipline
Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2024 is approaching, and with it the Information Literacy Group are hosting an international panel session online, on 24 October, looking into what Information Literacy means as a discipline, and how we can advance conversations around this topic. For more information contact the ILG Comms Team.
The Guardian Foundation: webinar on participatory approaches to media literacy education
Join experts from the Guardian Foundation for an online event: media literacy to media fluency webinar on 15 October. At this webinar you can access resources tailored to the age of the young people you work with and hear from experts at The Guardian Foundation about how participatory, immersive approaches to media literacy education can build young people's resilience to disinformation. For more information contact The Guardian Foundation.
SCVO publishes media literacy tool to support new internet users
SCVO's Digital Inclusion Team have developed and published a media literacy tool to support new internet users and learners to navigate important tasks and use the internet responsibly. Try it out and read more about it in their blog Let's think about media literacy and Cool for cats: being curious not careless online.
For more information contact Jason Railton.
Internet Matters: recommendations for improving media literacy education in schools
Ahead of the Government’s Curriculum Review, Internet Matters has published its recommendations for improving media literacy education in schools, Charting the Path for Media Literacy in Schools, including embracing a whole family approach, training teachers, building a cross-sector coalition, raising media literacy’s status and setting standards.
For more information contact Katie Freeman-Tayler.
ParentZone: Everyday Digital Habits campaign
Parent Zone has launched a new #EverydayDigitalHabits video campaign – outlining simple habits that can help parents build positive media literacy skills and behaviours. Family-facing organisations can add these videos, and other expert content, to their site with the Everyday Digital widget.
For more information contact everydaydigital.
Anti Bullying Week 2024: Choose Respect
Anti-Bullying Week 2024 is taking place from Monday 11th - Friday 15th November, with the theme: ‘Choose Respect’. The Anti-Bullying Alliance have created everything you need – entirely free of charge - including: School Packs, Odd Socks Day Pack, Parents and Carers Pack and much more!
For more information contact the Anti Bullying Alliance.
SOUK launches new APPG on political and media literacy
The newly expanded APPG on Political and Media Literacy will be officially launching in October. The APPG provides an all-party forum to discuss the current provision of citizenship, political, and media literacy education and to explore how best to strengthen such education for young people.
For more information contact Jillian Rolnick.
MILA briefing note calls for MIL in school curriculum review
The Media and Information Alliance have published an open briefing note to MPs, peers and policymakers explaining the importance of media and information literacy as an integral part of school education and calling for MIL to be properly addressed in the forthcoming review of the school curriculum.
For more information contact Stéphane Goldstein.
Call for action against companies which allow students to pay others to do their assignments
The Global Academic Integrity Network representing 40 international education regulatory bodies has called on social media and online platforms to take a stand and join the fight against academic dishonesty by refusing to carry advertising from academic companies where students can pay someone else to do their assignments, and exams. The network believes this action is vital to protect learners. For more information contact Gráinne Mooney.
Celebrating Global Media and Information Literacy Week 24-31 October
UNESCO MIL Conference week is being livestreamed. More information on the conference is available at Global Media and Information Literacy Week Feature Conference 2024 | UNESCO. Registration (including for virtual attendance) is available at Global MIL Week Feature Conference 2024 (30-31 October 2024): Registration · Indico.UN. If organisations want to register their own event happening locally, they can do so at Register Your Own Event.
Join the MLA for a week of media literacy events
The Media & Learning Association (MLA) is organising in collaboration with several partner organisations a full week of Media Literacy events! This initiative is part of UNESCO’s Global Media and Information Literacy Week, dedicated to enhancing global media literacy. For more information contact Chloé Pété.