Media Literacy Initiatives in Ireland 2023

MLI Workstreams for 2023 Coordination Communication Innovation Promotion To be an acknowledged first port-of-call in relation to media literacy in Ireland and to provide support and advice for media literacy stakeholders (national and international). To foster discussion and debate around all aspects of media literacy in Ireland with a view to helping to identify emerging issues, gaps in provision, opportunities for collaboration. To inspire, encourage and facilitate the development of new media literacy projects, programmes and interventions, and encourage evaluation and sustainability. To use the strength, reach and expertise of MLI members to collectively highlight media literacy related issues and sign- post to sources of support via multi- stakeholder public awareness campaigns. To promote the work of MLI members at a national and international level.

MLI Priority Topics for 2023 Topic 1: Critical Understanding Addressing matters such as countering Disinformation, improving trust in media, journalists as curators of information in our society, agendas and interests, business models. Topic 2: Creative Participation Addressing matters such as production techniques, story-telling etc. Topic 3: Digital Citizenship Addressing matters such as ethical and effective participation, digital civility.

MLI Priority Topics mapped to Desired Outcomes / Skills under BAI Media Literacy Competency Areas Understand and critically evaluate broadcast, digital and other media content and services, in order to make informed choices and best manage media use MLI Topic 1: Critical Understanding MLI Topic 2: Creative Participation MLI Topic 3: Digital Citizenship Ability to recognise different content types, such as advertising, editorial, fact and opinion. Understanding of the editorial processes involved in producing different content types. Ability to deconstruct media messages and recognise influencing factors such as stereotyping, bias, unfair portrayal, non-evidence based speculation, inappropriate content and context. Ability to analyse and assess the motivations of the content producer and the context in which the content is presented. Ability to evaluate content and services for truthfulness, reliability and value for money. Understanding of the regulatory environments which apply to media content and services.

MLI Priority Topics mapped to Desired Outcomes / Skills under BAI Media Literacy Competency Areas Create and participate, via media, in a responsible, ethical and effective manner, in the creative, cultural and democratic aspects of society MLI Topic 1 Critical Understanding MLI Topic 2 Creative Participation MLI Topic 3: Digital Citizenship Awareness of how messages are constructed using text, images, audio and code. Ability to create media content and products by producing text, images, audio, video & code. Ability to create content for public use (e.g. using creative commons licences). Ability to publish, upload, share content online. Ability to compile and curate content. Ability to differentiate between, & select, the most effective services for communication. Understanding of how networks are formed and function and how to manage them. Awareness of digital rights and responsibilities. Ability to engage in online learning opportunities. Ability to express personal opinions and respond appropriately to the opinions of others. How to find & create opportunities to participate in the civic & cultural aspects of society Skills & confidence to recognise, manage & appropriately challenge inappropriate behaviour.

MLI Priority Topics mapped to Desired Outcomes / Skills under BAI Media Literacy Competency Areas Access and use broadcast and digital media content and services in a safe and secure manner, to maximise opportunities and minimise risks MLI Topic 1: Critical Understanding MLI Topic 2: Creative Participation MLI Topic 3: Digital Citizenship Effectively search for, find, navigate, and use media content and services. Make informed choices about the value and protection of personal data, while using media content and services. Recognise how the infrastructure of the internet can influence media choices, patterns of behaviour and diversity of content/views. Recognise and understand the potential benefit and possible risks linked with emerging technology. Transact online in a safe and secure manner.

Communication Workstream Tasks for 2023 2023 Activities Deadlines Ongoing Manage all MLI member communications. Monthly Create and distribute a monthly newsletter. Q2 Develop and deliver a webinar on Careers in Media under the Creative Participation topic. Q3 Develop and deliver a webinar aligned to the Digital Citizenship topic. Q4 Develop and deliver an in-person event aligned to the topic of Critical Understanding which would coincide with the launch the Be Media Smart Week. Q4 Deliver the MLI annual conference. Ongoing Manage the medialiteracyireland.ie and bemediasmart.ie websites. Ongoing Manage MLI social media accounts. Q2 & Q3 Plan for MLI annual conference in November. Q4 Deliver MLI annual conference in November.

Coordination Workstream Tasks for 2023 2023 Activities Deadlines Ongoing Respond to requests for information from members, potential partners, journalists and consultation calls etc. Ongoing Continue to seek out strategic partnerships and memberships. Monthly Connect members with opportunities for funding, partnerships and promotion etc. End Q2, Q3, Q4 Coordinate the Steering Group meetings, the Working Group Panel meeting and specific Working Groups. Ongoing Participate in national and international working groups, seminars, conferences etc. Manage membership database and encourage use of online membership area. Ongoing Q2 Establish MLI policy sub-group to provide advice/guidance on ML policy on ad-hoc basis.

Innovation Workstream Tasks for 2023 2023 Activities Deadlines Complete Yr 1 of MLI Awards Programme. Q1 Review Yr 1 of MLI Awards Programme. Q2 Plan Yr 2 of MLI Awards Programme. Q3 Launch Yr 2 of MLI Awards Programme. Q4 Ongoing Support MLI members to develop new projects (with information, introductions, letters of support, advisory groups etc). Ongoing Highlight media literacy best practices and opportunities for training and development. Ongoing Promote the evaluation of media literacy interventions to explore the impact of media literacy initiatives and the potential for behaviour change and the impact of that behaviour change.

Promotion Workstream Tasks for 2023 2023 Activities Deadlines Amplify member and non-member media literacy related public awareness campaigns. Ongoing Promote the work of MLI members internationally at conferences and in publications and via the training and development section of the MLI website. Ongoing Review Be Media Smart website and existing assets. Q2 Identify existing toolkits that could be used as part of BMS. Q2 Create BMS plan and secure support from MLI membership for events, content production, promotion, media planning across all platforms and opportunities for outreach. Q2 Identify and reach out to new BMS partners. Q2 Update Be Media Smart Assets and update BMS website with new content. Q2 Circulate assets to Membership and encourage use. Q2 Coordinate Be Media Smart week. Q3 / Q4