Developing a library of media literacy resources for Caribbean educators and journalists

By Desilon Daniels, Project & Advocacy Coordinator, PMA

In case you missed it, the Public Media Alliance (PMA) is developing a media and information literacy (MIL) project in the Caribbean, aimed at empowering schoolchildren, educators, and journalists. The project – “Building the Caribbean’s Next Generation of Media Literate Citizens” – targets stakeholders in Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago.

With support from the UNESCO Cluster Office for the Caribbean, UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC), and our regional partners and members, PMA will develop a digital library of media literacy resources, host capacity-building workshops for educators and journalists, engage regional stakeholders, and organise in-country activities for up to 400 schoolchildren.

How crucial media literacy is in today’s digital age cannot be overstated. Our access to multiplatform media is at an all-time high, and we have countless ways of staying entertained, informed, and connected. But this access brings dangers, including the proliferation and amplification of mis- and disinformation on digital platforms.

Citizens must be able to critically evaluate and navigate media content, not just for their own benefit but for their essential role as informed decision-makers in society and democracy. We at the Public Media Alliance have recognised this urgency, and we’ve set out to develop a digital library of media literacy resources that holds significant promise for educators and journalists across the Caribbean.

At the heart of our project lies the understanding that media literacy skills – particularly news literacy and digital literacy – are needed to discern credible information sources and engage critically with media content. But beyond that, the project recognises that media literacy skills must be cultivated collaboratively by stakeholders equipped with these skills themselves.

In our 2022 MIL research project, almost all of our researchers highlighted the need for the Caribbean to cultivate the “next generation of media literate citizens”. They called for the integration of media and information literacy into school curriculums, across all levels of the system. Building on that recommendation – and recognising the Caribbean’s struggles with limited investment in media literacy initiatives, rising levels of mis- and disinformation, declining trust in news media and a growing number of attacks against journalists – we set out to create a project that would empower educators and journalists as central stakeholders in the media literacy ecosystem.

The first step in the project’s chain of events is the digital library, which will act as a toolkit and launchpad for the workshop elements of the project. Educators and journalists will be the primary focus of this stage due to their pivotal roles in empowering others and ensuring the sustainability of the project. However, it’s worth noting that journalists, despite their central role as media literacy partners, often lack access to capacity-building initiatives, representing a critical gap in the media literacy ecosystem.

At the heart of our project lies the understanding that media literacy skills – particularly news literacy and digital literacy – are needed to discern credible information sources and engage critically with media content.

By equipping educators and journalists with the necessary resources and skills, the digital library aims to empower them to effectively engage with media literacy education and promote informed decision-making among their respective audiences. This initiative not only addresses immediate challenges but also lays the groundwork for a more media-literate and resilient society in the Caribbean.

The library will be a repository of global MIL resources that already exist. Similar to our previous toolkits (such as our digital investigative journalism toolkit and our crisis reporting toolkit), the digital library will direct users to resources that highlight best MIL practices and enhance their news literacy skills.

The progress we’ve made so far in developing the digital library has been substantial: we’ve secured over 75 resources from more than 20 reputable organisations, and these resources cover a wide array of topics crucial to media literacy, from critical thinking to digital citizenship. Simultaneously, work on the platform interface has commenced, and we aim to create a user-friendly and accessible space for educators and journalists. Expert videos – created especially for this project and geared at guiding educators and journalists through the process of developing their own media literacy approaches – are also in production; these cover vital subjects such as evaluating media literacy projects and effective teaching methods.

The toolkit is scheduled for a live launch at the end of May 2024 and will continuously evolve with periodic updates, ensuring its relevance and responsiveness to the needs of stakeholders.

But beyond the regularly updated repository, the digital library will go a step beyond and include “featured resources” and an expert videos section.