"Our technology forces us to live mythically, but we continue to think fragmentarily, and on single, separate planes” (McLuhan and Fiore, 1967). What would McLuhan think of us now? That is the question that I have been wrestling with since the inception of this issue. Our world does not look like the one that McLuhan imagined. In many ways, I’m not sure he could have … [Read more...] about Are We Living the McLuhan Myth or Reality?
Editorials
Bridging Past and Present to Build a Better Future
This issue, A McLuhan Mosaic: Bridging Foundational Thought to Present Urgency and Relevance, reflects the mission of the International Council for Media Literacy—to bridge academia to action. We have to begin by thanking our guest editors, Neil Andersen and Carol Arcus, who worked closely with Andrew McLuhan and Antonio Lopez to shape this issue. As is our practice in … [Read more...] about Bridging Past and Present to Build a Better Future
Marshall McLuhan knew what we were. And what we were in for.
A Letter from Guest Editors, Neil Andersen and Carol Arcus “[The] instantaneous world of electric informational media involves all of us all at once. Ours is a brand new world of all-at-once-ness. The global village is not created by the motor car or even by the airplane. It's created by instant electronic information movement. The global village is at once as wide as … [Read more...] about Marshall McLuhan knew what we were. And what we were in for.
Being an AI in a Marshall McLuhan World
Co-authored by Perplexity Preface There continues to be a long and loud sturm und drang about Generative artificial intelligence. I am responsible for some of it because I helped to create the GenAI Agent Imposter podcast in this issue. One GenAI innovation is the ability to dialogue with users. I have had conversations with a virtual Hamlet, Ophelia, Adolf Hitler, … [Read more...] about Being an AI in a Marshall McLuhan World
Media Literacy’s Role in Preserving and Redefining the Public Commons
When our editorial committee started planning for this issue, we were pondering how to address the extreme polarization we were seeing in the U.S. election campaign. In 2024, at least 64 countries were holding elections, highlighting the variety and fragility of democracy around the globe. Online digital spaces complicate the traditional concept of the town square in which … [Read more...] about Media Literacy’s Role in Preserving and Redefining the Public Commons
Holding space for the commons
It is remarkable how much can change in a short period. When we embarked on this special issue, we were tasked with finding a manner to articulate a place of commonality in what appeared to be a very polarized public sphere, especially in the United States. So, rather than directly taking on polarization or even echo chambers, we moved the conversation towards articulating … [Read more...] about Holding space for the commons
Introduction to: Democracy by Collision or Connection? The Crisis of the Public Commons
This JML issue is dedicated to the crisis of the public commons, its implications, and how it is addressed across different spheres and contexts. The myriads of articles submitted for this issue reflect multiple perspectives on the notion of "commons" and the ways to confront threats that undermine their essence and purpose in contemporary societies. In an effort to … [Read more...] about Introduction to: Democracy by Collision or Connection? The Crisis of the Public Commons
Conference Conversations
Conference season comes with excitement and possibilities. As this issue comes to fruition what is apparent is how much people have found joy and rejuvenation in celebrating their work while learning form their counterparts from all over the world in 2024. As the founder of the International Media Literacy Research Symposium (IMLRS), the goal has always been to bring … [Read more...] about Conference Conversations
Media Literacy 2024: A Vibrant Summer in a Year of Excellence
The year 2024 will be remembered as a remarkable one in the field of media literacy. This is a personal perspective that I aim to substantiate in this text by presenting seven key reasons: There are many more outcomes that were produced from these conference events. You will read more about them in this issue which documents the research as well as the learning obtained. … [Read more...] about Media Literacy 2024: A Vibrant Summer in a Year of Excellence
Travel far enough, you meet yourself
This quote by David Mitchell, a British author describes my summer of travel very well. Immersing yourself when you travel leads to more than just making memories. Combining travel with intellectually stimulating conferences and opening yourself to a community of people who are all willing to share their perspectives and work with you is so empowering. It can be … [Read more...] about Travel far enough, you meet yourself
Magic in the Mundane: Media Literacy Advocacy Advice from Carol Arcus
On Friday, June 28, 2024, Carol Arcus, from the Association for Media Literacy in Canada, won the Jessie McCanse Award for Significant Contributions to the Field of Media Literacy Education. As someone fortunate enough to work alongside Carol regularly, I was keen to hear her acceptance speech. Carol, as many modest people do when confronted by recognition of their … [Read more...] about Magic in the Mundane: Media Literacy Advocacy Advice from Carol Arcus
Building Digital Immunity – Insights from DCN’s Conference in Finland
Attending the “Unlocking Media Literacy” conference in Finland was a powerful experience that underscored media literacy's pivotal role in today’s society. Presenting my country’s media literacy policy framework and initiatives and learning from international counterparts offered a comprehensive view of the evolving media landscape and strategies for enhancing public … [Read more...] about Building Digital Immunity – Insights from DCN’s Conference in Finland
Is media literacy dead? Challenging conversations for these digital times
The joy of meeting like-minded thinkers and researchers was palpable as a small group of media literacy education scholars from Belgium, Switzerland, South Korea, the United States, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia and Sydney met in August for the Media Literacy within the Dynamics of Everyday Life Symposium hosted by the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child at … [Read more...] about Is media literacy dead? Challenging conversations for these digital times
Warfare in the Disinformation Age
One of the most important points I tried to convey at the International Media Literacy Conference 2024 was that Western countries like the United States, European Union, and Canada are embroiled in a war that their citizens are often unequipped to recognize or handle. Unlike conventional warfare, which is fought using kinetic tactics and weaponry like guns, tanks, and bombs, … [Read more...] about Warfare in the Disinformation Age
A Personal Journey at the 5th International Media Literacy Symposium: My Insights and Inspirations
The 5th International Media Literacy Symposium in Ponta Delgada, Azores, was a fantastic experience. I had the chance to present my work titled Navigating the Future of Media Literacy: Exploring the Impact of Generative AI. Presenting and connecting with educators from different countries highlighted the importance of our shared mission to advance media literacy. Meeting so … [Read more...] about A Personal Journey at the 5th International Media Literacy Symposium: My Insights and Inspirations
IMLRS, June 2024 Azores, Portugal
What an amazing experience we had at the international Media Literacy Research Symposium (IMLRS) 2024 at Ponta Delgada in the Azores islands of Portugal in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. So many colleagues and friends from the Media Education Lab attended. It was a delight to meet in person new members of the MediaEd Graduate Symposium. First, I must thank Belinha … [Read more...] about IMLRS, June 2024 Azores, Portugal
Privileging materiality, action, care and kinship in critical media literacy education
The International Media Literacy Symposium was a gathering of acutely caring scholar-educators deftly zeroing in on problems of social and ecological injustices embedded in our media cultures and sharing research aimed at tackling these problems through various educational practices. The panel I participated in was about the similarities, connections and gaps in media and … [Read more...] about Privileging materiality, action, care and kinship in critical media literacy education
The summer of Media Literacy Education
Just as AI experts have called the period in which data scarcity prevented the development of that technology “the winter of artificial intelligence,” it seems right to say that two events during the summer in the northern hemisphere will be marked as “the summer of media literacy” due to the abundance and quality of the debates. In June, the International Media Literacy … [Read more...] about The summer of Media Literacy Education
Media Literacy Through Filmmaking: International Media Literacy Research Symposium 2024
I was not sure I would make it onto the airplane to the Azores to present my work on Media Literacy Through Filmmaking at the 2024 International Media Literacy Research Symposium. This conference happens every two years, and I was excited to share my work with the international group I met in 2022 when I first presented in Madison, Wisconsin. But this year I was in the hospital … [Read more...] about Media Literacy Through Filmmaking: International Media Literacy Research Symposium 2024
Celebrating Achievement: Reflections on the International Media Literacy Award and Conference Experience
Receiving the Marieli Rowe Innovation in Media Literacy Education Award for my ELELE project was a profound honor and a testament to the hard work and dedication poured into our academic writing project started in Azerbabiajan in 2016. Presented at the conference in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Azores, on June 27-28, 2024, my study, "Algorithmic Social Justice through … [Read more...] about Celebrating Achievement: Reflections on the International Media Literacy Award and Conference Experience
