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
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
Transforming the Public Commons in the Age of Intelligent Machines
Abstract The essence of the public commons can be traced from the ancient agora or forum which were physical places through technological transformations to digital spaces that have no" there" there but may exist in the "cloud" or exist as part of global outreach of ever-expanding media capabilities that are able to bring millions together all at once with no one ever having … [Read more...] about Transforming the Public Commons in the Age of Intelligent Machines
The Canicab Charter: A Mayan Model for Data Governance
Abstract Mayan organizations and collectives are working to develop instruments of resistance to the predatory data extractivism of governments, political parties, media outlets, academics and non-governmental organizations. This article presents the Canicab Charter, a community created document about equitable data governance and a direct response to data extractivist … [Read more...] about The Canicab Charter: A Mayan Model for Data Governance
Advancing Land-Relations through the Digital Commons: The Working Toward Self-Determination Together, Indigenous Research and Data Governance Project
Abstract The concept of the commons has been contested by Indigenous scholars who make note that these “common” spaces are on stolen Indigenous lands (Kidd, 2020). Evoking the commons without upholding Indigenous sovereignty reproduces what the commons seeks to disrupt as settler colonialism advances the structuring logics of capitalism (Dorries et al., 2022). Despite the … [Read more...] about Advancing Land-Relations through the Digital Commons: The Working Toward Self-Determination Together, Indigenous Research and Data Governance Project
Social Media and Diasporic Digital Communion: The Ukrainian Experience
Abstract Today's digital diasporas, enabled by the tools of virtual communication, create a contemporary, global, open public space that enables the voices of a wide range of individuals who would otherwise be unable to express their perspectives within the diaspora. Some of those who participate in the digital diasporas might not otherwise be included in the diasporic … [Read more...] about Social Media and Diasporic Digital Communion: The Ukrainian Experience
The Ecomedia Commons: An Ecomedia Literacy Analysis of ChatGPT
Abstract This article proposes ecomedia literacy as a critical framework for exploring the intricate relationship between artificial intelligence (AI), media, and the environment. The authors argue for a nuanced awareness of AI's symbolic, discursive, and material impacts on the planet, advocating for responsible and ethical engagement with emerging technologies. They explore … [Read more...] about The Ecomedia Commons: An Ecomedia Literacy Analysis of ChatGPT
Three Case Studies of Power in Pixels: The Female Protagonist in Viral Protest Photography
Abstract Using a social semiotic framework, this study analyzes three iconic protest images from different socio-cultural contexts to examine their visual rhetoric and impact. By comparing the visual elements, narratives, and affective power of these images, the article speaks to the role of digital visual culture in social justice movements. In doing so, the research … [Read more...] about Three Case Studies of Power in Pixels: The Female Protagonist in Viral Protest Photography
Navigating the Public Commons: A Student Perspective on Democracy and Public Space
Abstract In contemporary United States democracy, the public sphere seems to be increasingly fragmented, with citizens more engaged with their digital devices than with each other. As a college student, I have observed that we are often more preoccupied with the latest social media trends and virtual interactions than the pressing issues in our immediate communities. This … [Read more...] about Navigating the Public Commons: A Student Perspective on Democracy and Public Space
Civil Discourse and Democracy: Unteaching Divisive Argumentation Through Critical Inquiry
Abstract Despite the many positive effects of social media, the rise of extremist views and outrage culture and decline of Civil Discourse (CD) on many platforms have been a growing concern for decades. Conversation decorum and the ability to agree to disagree have been replaced with overconfidence, finger pointing, disinformation, cancel culture, gas lighting, and the … [Read more...] about Civil Discourse and Democracy: Unteaching Divisive Argumentation Through Critical Inquiry
Tik Tok, Teenagers and Phygital Wars
Abstract Teenagers consume news via social media, along with entertainment, sports, and user-generated content (UGC). Politicians and institutions use platforms to promote themselves, but these same platforms are used to spread misinformation. Rapid advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) blur the lines between physical and digital, making it difficult for young media … [Read more...] about Tik Tok, Teenagers and Phygital Wars
State of Play of Media Literacy at National Level: An evidence-based approach towards setting national policy models of media literacy
Abstract Global research on media literacy is constantly evolving and transforming towards digital, meta-media pathways. New issues under analysis, such as human and machine interaction through Generative AI, ethics and copyrights under public commons, digital content and e-safety, as well as innovative e-learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom, place media … [Read more...] about State of Play of Media Literacy at National Level: An evidence-based approach towards setting national policy models of media literacy
Making the invisible visible: Emancipatory approaches to algorithmic literacy in Brazilian education
Abstract Systems powered by artificial intelligence are increasingly present in our daily lives. While the use of AI enhances convenience and accelerates innovation, it also raises critical concerns regarding privacy, information integrity and trust, and may deepen inequalities. “Making the invisible visible” is a presentation in ’zine format of EducaMídia’s efforts to bring … [Read more...] about Making the invisible visible: Emancipatory approaches to algorithmic literacy in Brazilian education
Storytelling for Social Justice: A Case Study of Secondary School Media Literacy Curriculum as Global Citizenship in Action
Abstract While media has shown to disrupt those experiences that form the root of our humanity, particularly our human relationships, this article explores how media literacy and production can be tools to foster human connection and empathy. Exploring a case study of media literacy curriculum as civic engagement, this article offers an example of how media literacy and … [Read more...] about Storytelling for Social Justice: A Case Study of Secondary School Media Literacy Curriculum as Global Citizenship in Action
Student Media Projects Elevate Student Voices: UN Sustainability Goals
Abstract I have been working with students for several years in collaboration with global organizations that support the UN Sustainability Goals. This introduces my public high school students in North Carolina to issues that tend to be left out of the public school curriculum. I teach videography/photography so our work lends itself to elevating student voices … [Read more...] about Student Media Projects Elevate Student Voices: UN Sustainability Goals
Are High Impact Approaches Helpful in Boosting News Media Literacy? Lessons from an Online Experiment Conducted in the United States During the 2024 Election Season
Abstract This project evaluates whether high impact pedagogies are effective in boosting media literacy among American college students. In September of 2024 (less than two months before U.S. national elections), we integrated a controlled experiment in politics courses that we teach at our respective Minnesota colleges. We created learning modules that represent two different … [Read more...] about Are High Impact Approaches Helpful in Boosting News Media Literacy? Lessons from an Online Experiment Conducted in the United States During the 2024 Election Season
Building Civic Competencies: Design and Outcomes in Media Literacy and Critical Thinking Instruction
Abstract The emergence of misinformation and disinformation have led to a mistrust of information in general, from politics to science to pop culture. Mistrust often gives way to apathy, creating a lack of desire to even distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources of information. A study of student surveys across multiple semesters and courses supports the notion that … [Read more...] about Building Civic Competencies: Design and Outcomes in Media Literacy and Critical Thinking Instruction
