Transcript MEDIA LITERACY

MEDIA LITERACY:
a European approach
Aviva SILVER - DG Information Society and Media
Unit A2 MEDIA programme and media literacy
Brussels, 4 December 2007
The EU today
27 countries – 490 million people
Why Media Literacy?
• Without image, thinking is impossible
– Aristotle
• A democratic civilisation will save itself only
if it makes the language of image into a
stimulus for critical reflection, not an
invitation to hypnosis
- Umberto Eco
Media Literacy may be defined as…
The ability to:
• Access media
• Understand and critically evaluate
different aspects of the media and media
contents
• Create communications in a variety of
contexts
Media Literacy relates to…
• All media (television, cinema, video, books,
magazines, newspapers, websites, radio,
video games, virtual communities)
• Citizenship, freedom, rights and democracy
• Audiovisual heritage and cultural identity
• Empowerment of citizens
Why a European approach to Media
Literacy? (1/2)
• The media change: internet, digital TV,
virtual communities
• The media consumption and use change:
mobility, user generated content, egovernment
• The challenges change: internet safety,
eInclusion, e-Accessibility
Why a European approach to Media
Literacy? (2/2)
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Coherence with:
MEDIA 2007
Lisbon objectives
i2010 strategic policy framework
AVMS Directive
The European Commission strategy State of play (1/3)
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30 Projects funded from 2002 up to 2005
New funding opportunities in MEDIA 2007
SAFER INTERNET PLUS Programme
AVMS Directive
Expert Group – Public Consultation – Study
on the current trends and approaches to
Media Literacy in Europe
The European Commission strategy State of play (2/3)
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The public consultation on Media
Literacy
Last quarter of 2006
Extremely satisfactory response both in
quantitative terms and in terms of the quality
and variety of the respondents
Picture shows that there are different
practices and levels of media literacy
Need for exchange of good practices and
research for assessment criteria
Report available
The European Commission strategy State of play (3/3)
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Study on the current trends and
approaches to Media Literacy in Europe
Media Literacy is made necessary by the
convergence of medias
Media Literacy includes the former stages of
education (read and write, audiovisual,
digital, etc.)
Country- and case-studies
Strategic objectives and recommendations
The Study will be available soon
The European Commission strategy:
what’s next ?
Communication on Media Literacy
(December 2007)
• First policy document on Media Literacy at
the European level
• In course of adoption by the Commission
• Respect of the subsidiarity principle
• Completing EU AV policy under i2010
The forthcoming Communication on
Media Literacy – Highlights (1/2)
• Media Literacy in the digital environment
• A European definition of Media Literacy
– Related to all media
– Related to all levels of Media Literacy
• Three main areas:
– Media Literacy for commercial communication
– Media Literacy for audiovisual works
– Media literacy for online
The forthcoming Communication on
Media Literacy – Highlights (2/2)
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Some key concepts:
Awareness and knowledge
Critical approach
Exploiting media actively and creatively
Copyright issues
eInclusion and e-Accessibility
Contacts
Aviva SILVER
European Commission
DG Information Society and Media
MEDIA programme and Media Literacy unit
[email protected]
Websites
• www.europa.eu
• http://ec.europa.eu/media
• http://ec.europa.eu/comm/avpolicy
/index_en.htm
• http://ec.europa.eu/comm/avpolicy
/media_literacy/index_en.htm
• http://ec.europa.eu/information_so
ciety/activities/sip/index_en.htm