Libraries and Media Literacy Education Full Report

There is growing recognition of the need for the general public to be educated and guided to engage critically with news and media and to develop their media literacy skills and knowledge. The proliferation of new digital platforms, mis and disinformation, fake news, deepfakes, sponsored content and the rise of the ‘attention economy’, among other issues, means there is also an urgent need to understand how people access and engage with information and media content, and how they are impacted by it. Libraries play a significant role in supporting the public to develop and upskill their media and digital literacy. Media technology is rapidly evolving, and the skills people learn during formal education need constant updating. Media literacy is among the most important skills for people to engage effectively with media content as online platforms multiply, mis and disinformation proliferates and the ‘attention economy’ vies for our time.
 
This report explores the findings from a national study of LIS practitioners’ perceptions of media literacy education conducted by scholars from the University of Canberra in partnership with ALIA. It also discusses the development of a 7-week course tailored to the needs of those in pedagogical roles, specifically in the LIS sector. Finally, the report reviews the first intakes of the course and feedback received from students. You can read all the details in this full report, or get a quick summary in the associated snapshot report. 
 
Full report all accessible: https://doi.org/10.25916/kahm-zr94