Mapping of Media and Information Literacy Initiatives in Ibero-America - 2023

"This mapping exercise underscores the crucial role of MIL [media and information literacy] in nurturing democratic societies by equipping individuals with essential competencies. These competencies empower individuals to engage with media and information more actively and critically."

This report, published by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), shares the results of a mapping of media and information literacy (MIL) initiatives in Ibero-America carried out throughout 2023. Conducted as a collaborative effort between the Ibero-American Platform of Audiovisual Regulators (PRAI) and UNESCO, it is based on a questionnaire addressed to members of PRAI, public service media, and various relevant public and civil organisations in the field of MIL in the Iberoamerican region. The purpose of the mapping is to identify current MIL practices within the Ibero-American region. It also seeks to promote the dissemination of best practices in MIL to inspire other nations and promote replication, as well as to pinpoint opportunities for innovating MIL practices in response to the evolving challenges of digital environments. Ultimately, the initiative is expected to contribute to reinforcing the adoption of comprehensive MIL policies by the states or territories of the region. This report outlines the mapping project and its main findings and also offers recommendations for the promotion and dissemination of MIL in the region. It is accompanied by two annexes that detail the 52 identified initiatives that make up the mapping.

As explained in the report, MIL, as defined by UNESCO, is "an umbrella concept that includes all the skills needed to navigate the increasingly complex field of information and communication. MIL empowers citizens to think critically and to have the necessary skills to participate in an informed and ethical manner in information, media, and digital content and services. It brings together media literacy, information literacy and digital empowerment into a single concept....MIL provides a set of essential skills to address the challenges of the 21st century including the proliferation of mis- and disinformation and hate speech, the decline of trust in media, and digital innovations, notably artificial intelligence. The current media ecosystem has amplified the need to foster competencies for responsible information use and the conscious consumption of audiovisual and digital content more than ever before. This underscores the importance of identifying MIL initiatives in the Ibero-American region, particularly those led by media regulators and public media."

Based on the 52 identified MIL practices, the mapping offers an analysis of the current state of MIL approaches in the region, looking at priority age groups for these initiatives, the existence of regulations promoting MIL, specific issues addressed by MIL practices, like combating disinformation, and the availability of resources for implementation. The findings also identify areas and actions that need strengthening to achieve a greater impact to benefit a broader audience.

In brief, the findings reveal the following:

• A slight majority of territories (63%) has specific regulations on MIL, but only a minority (37%) of regulatory bodies has resources to promote it.
• Since 2020, there has been an exponential increase in the implementation of MIL initiatives. The main thematic area of focus of work by organisations participating in the survey was to build critical skills and combat disinformation, with fewer initiatives indicating thematic focus areas related to the "protection of minors" or "gender perspective".
• MIL initiatives have mainly engaged children, teachers, and families; they are increasingly engaging adults over 18 years of age.
• The vast majority of MIL practices involve direct collaboration between regulators and schools or specific societal groups, with fewer practices related to the "Production and/or dissemination of educational or didactic material (printed, digital and/or audiovisual)" and "Communication and awareness campaigns (printed, digital, and/or audiovisual) that involve disseminating materials and messages through the media, mainly targeting the general population." Some initiatives combined two or three of these modalities.
• Of the 52 initiatives identified through the mapping survey, 67.3% incorporate a gender perspective. When asked how this perspective is primarily manifested, the answer is mainly through the use of inclusive and non-sexist language, as well as the integration and promotion of equal participation of men and women in the activities conducted within the initiatives.

The research shows that the initiatives mapped have potential for replication, especially in cases where communication materials and interventions are based on digital environments, as they are easier to replicate from an outreach and financial viability perspective. Accessibility to information and communication technologies must also be considered when looking at the potential for replication. As explained, "In Latin American countries, accessibility varies significantly among different population groups, with socioeconomic factors still determining the availability of digital interaction in education and the implementation of initiatives for capacity building, including media competencies."

Based on the findings, the report offers the following recommendations for the promotion and dissemination of MIL in Ibero-America:

1. MIL should be strengthened in legal frameworks.
2. Cross-cutting public policies should incorporate MIL into school curricula.
3. There is an urgent need to create inter-institutional and multi-stakeholder working groups to coordinate cross-cutting and comprehensive MIL policies.
4. Regulators and other public institutions should be provided with adequate resources to promote MIL practices and public policies.
5. The promotion of MIL in Latin America must go hand in hand with policies and actions that seek to increase access to information technologies.
6. Audiovisual media should be encouraged to carry out MIL actions with their audiences as part of their own media development strategy.
7. International cooperation to identify and exchange best practices should continue to be promoted and upscaled.

Click here to access the Spanish version of this 33-page publication in PDF format.