Media Literacy

Lesson 1: Introduction to Media Literacy

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WHAT IS MEDIA LITERACY?

Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create and act on using all forms of communication. Media literacy includes the ability to recognize messages in various forms, understand how messages can affect people differently and be thoughtful about what content and media to share.

Why is media literacy important?

Media literacy can help people be effective and informed consumers and creators of media content in a global society.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) considers media literacy an important part of human rights and created five laws of media and information literacy:

• All information providers (e.g., internet, libraries, media) are critical to civic engagement
• Every citizen is a creator of information and knowledge, and has a right to share their message
• Information and knowledge are not free from bias or inherent values
• Every citizen has a right to obtain new information and knowledge
• Media and information literacy is a dynamic process that includes attitudes, knowledge and skills related to accessing, evaluating, using, producing and communicating information and knowledge

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