Context As our daily lives are increasingly shaped by digital, informational, and media environments, it has become common to understand these environments through the lens of the corresponding new literacies that people are expected to mobilize in order to navigate the social world. In this context, literacies are increasingly under pressure. The calls for … [Read more...] about Doctoral Summer School – Research on Digital, Media and Information Literacy
Media Literacy
Media Moments in Media Memories
Day 444 has meaning to many of us who watched television news in 1980. In one of the biggest television news moments as well as historic moments, this was the last day of the Iran Hostage crisis. Reflecting on this moment coincides with the one-year anniversary of the death of the 39th President, Jimmy Carter. During this period in history, the United States had three … [Read more...] about Media Moments in Media Memories
Why I Keep McLuhan Alive in the Classroom
You know that feeling when your students casually drop, “Oh yeah, I ran that prompt through ChatGPT already” before class even begins? It’s like AI is no longer a guest in the classroom, it’s already part of the furniture. In moments like that, it’s tempting to throw up your hands and scramble for brand-new theories. But recently I’ve been turning back to Marshall McLuhan, and … [Read more...] about Why I Keep McLuhan Alive in the Classroom
Who’s Thinking for Us? Media Literacy in our Modern World
In an age where students spend hours immersed in social media, algorithm-driven content, and attention economies, the illusion of free access to information often masks a deeper reality: our perceptions are curated, not chosen. Drawing on Noam Chomsky’s Manufacturing Consent, this article examines how corporate and political forces shape digital environments in ways that … [Read more...] about Who’s Thinking for Us? Media Literacy in our Modern World
The Journal of Media Literacy Spring 2026 Issue: McLuhan Mosaic
The Journal of Media Literacy Spring 2026 Issue McLuhan Mosaic Co-edited by Neil Andersen, Carol Arcus, Antonio Lopez, Andrew McLuhan Call for Proposals As communications media multiply at a dizzying pace, the need for media literacy education has never been more urgent. The rise of generative artificial intelligence has captured the public imagination—and, in many … [Read more...] about The Journal of Media Literacy Spring 2026 Issue: McLuhan Mosaic
Teens to Teachers: “We Got This.”
How GenZ is using peer mentorship to help their own “digital wellness.” October 13th, 2023 was a day to celebrate progress for education. California had just passed Assembly Bill No. 873 which mandates “Media Literacy” into core curriculums throughout the state’s public K-12 schools. Eighteen other states were taking similar action. The momentum was … [Read more...] about Teens to Teachers: “We Got This.”
Knowledge: A Conversation with Steve Connolly (Part 2)
This is the second part of our interview with author Steve Connolly. Read part one here. HC: I think that the idea that media and Media Studies are ever-changing, responding to the contemporary moment, and flexible is really a central idea that you address in the book. In many ways, it challenges a lot of the ways we conceptualize knowledge within these studies. How are … [Read more...] about Knowledge: A Conversation with Steve Connolly (Part 2)
CALL FOR PROPOSALS/ABSTRACTS
International Media Literacy Research Symposium https://www.imlrs.net June 4-6, 2026 John Cabot University -- Rome, Italy (In-Person) WHO SHOULD SUBMIT: Scholars, Researchers, and Educators at all stages of their careers are welcome to submit!! ACCEPTING THE FOLLOWING FORMATS: Roundtables: Individuals present their work in a roundtable which seats … [Read more...] about CALL FOR PROPOSALS/ABSTRACTS
WHY CAN’T WE TURN OFF OUR CELL PHONES? PLEASE!
On January 10, 2009, the yell heard round the world took place in the St. James Theatre. The three-time Tony Award winner, two-time Grammy award winner, and two-time Olivier Award winner, Patti LuPone took matters into her own hands during the grand finale of the musical Gypsy, “Rose’s Turn,” where she played the iconic role of Mama Rose. Patti shouted, “STOP TAKING PICTURES … [Read more...] about WHY CAN’T WE TURN OFF OUR CELL PHONES? PLEASE!
Media Literacy Guide for Minorities
Media is a ubiquitous part of our daily lives, so integrated that we cannot live without being affected by it. What we watch shapes our perception on topics, it changes our behaviors, and it has become a major part of our culture. Research from the National Center for Health Statistics from July 2021 – December 2023 revealed that teenagers from the ages of 12-17 spend four or … [Read more...] about Media Literacy Guide for Minorities
Honoring the Life and Legacy of Tessa Jolls
It is with deep sorrow that the International Council for Media Literacy mourns the passing of Tessa Jolls, a distinguished leader in the field of media literacy, a dedicated member of our Advisory Council, past recipient of our Jessie McCanse Award, and a dear friend. Her passing on April 6th leaves an immense void in our community, but her legacy will continue to inspire … [Read more...] about Honoring the Life and Legacy of Tessa Jolls
Unplugging the Myth: Why Smartphones Aren’t the Only Cause of Modern Anxiety
The Internet and news articles are full of advice on the need to cut screen-time and go fully off-line for the sake of well-being. The ideas went to schools and now we have international debates about banning phones in the classrooms. I myself was a big advocate for removing phones from everyday life, or, at least, having a 45 minutes limit for using social media. However, … [Read more...] about Unplugging the Myth: Why Smartphones Aren’t the Only Cause of Modern Anxiety
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
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
How can we teach curiosity for successful media literacy?
Abstract Curiosity is not only fundamental to media literacy but also a characteristic that can be taught and nurtured. Through a series of carefully developed practical exercises with theoretical underpinnings, this study reports that educators can cultivate curiosity in their students, empowering them to become engaged global citizens and critical thinkers. This paper … [Read more...] about How can we teach curiosity for successful media literacy?
Enhancing Trust in News through Digital and Media Education – Insights on Academic Initiatives
Abstract The phenomenon of misinformation has accelerated and reached an extraordinary dimension, which has the potential to seriously damage democracy, and media education is one of the strategies to counter it. In recent years, scholars, school educators, media NGOs, journalists, and other stakeholders have focused on the importance of media education and media literacy in … [Read more...] about Enhancing Trust in News through Digital and Media Education – Insights on Academic Initiatives
The challenges of implementing Media Literacy in a school in São Paulo
Abstract This article explores a teacher education course held in a private school in São Paulo, Brazil, as part of my doctoral research, in the field of reading literacy. The course focused on the importance of reading with a view to analyzing, identifying, comparing, contrasting and evaluating the information that we are all exposed to daily. The goal of this paper is to … [Read more...] about The challenges of implementing Media Literacy in a school in São Paulo
Interactive Media Education Model for High School Students in Croatia: Case Study of EDUbox
Abstract Students in high schools worldwide have already been recognized as a challenging audience for various types of media education programs (Dridi, 2021; Chen & Chuang, 2020). We introduce and analyze the interactive media education teaching model for high school students – EDUbox – developed by the Flemish public broadcaster VRT. This project brought together five … [Read more...] about Interactive Media Education Model for High School Students in Croatia: Case Study of EDUbox
Quo vadis, media literacy? Notes from Latvia, Bulgaria and the USA
Abstract Investigating and comparing the contents of recent media texts and policy documents about Media Literacy (ML) initiatives in Latvia, Bulgaria and the USA, our analysis responds to the questions: (1) what is the current state of discourse about ML in respective countries?; and (2) in what ways are ML related to national security, defense against propaganda and the … [Read more...] about Quo vadis, media literacy? Notes from Latvia, Bulgaria and the USA
