Global media literacy resources

Media literacy involves accessing, analysing, evaluating, and creating media in various forms. In today’s digital age, media literacy is essential for understanding media messages and navigating the digital landscape effectively.

Our library offers resources for educators and journalists to enhance their media literacy skills and promote critical thinking in media consumption and production.

5 Questions Students Should Ask About Media

For educators & journalists

This worksheet from Common Sense Education helps kids think critically about the media they consume and create by providing them with five key questions to consider.

A Practical Guide to Prebunking Misinformation

For educators & journalists

The ‘Practical Guide to Prebunking Misinformation’ is a collaborative effort between the University of Cambridge, Jigsaw (Google), and BBC Media Action. This guide empowers practitioners with actionable strategies to deploy effective prebunking interventions, bolstering resilience against misleading information.

ABC’s of Media & Information Literacy to Build Trust in Media

For journalists

From UNESCO’s MIL Clicks and the European Commission, this poster outlines key objectives and strategies to promote trust in media through MIL. By incorporating these principles, practitioners can empower learners to critically evaluate media content and make informed decisions.

Bias illustrated (Activity)

For educators & journalists

Challenge your writing skills by re-interpreting what you see in this comic strip-based activity from ABC Education. Each comic strip features a news story written in a particular way, prompting students to demonstrate how changing the language used can alter the way a story is perceived.

Conspiracy spotted?

For educators & journalists

This poster resource from Mediawijs helps individuals recognise conspiracy theories, which are increasingly prevalent both offline and online. The resource guides users on how to identify conspiracy theories and empowers them to critically evaluate information and navigate the media landscape responsibly.

Criticat: Philosophy with children about fake news

For educators & journalists

CritiCat (Kritikat) stimulates critical thinking about media messages through philosophical stories and reflection exercises. Developed by ExploRatio in collaboration with Mediawijs and OBiB, this initiative aims to empower children to navigate the digital world and discern fake news from credible sources.

EDUbox on Politics

For educators & journalists

From public broadcaster VRT, the EDUbox Politics aims to give young people insight into how decisions are made. How do you convince people of your ideas, how do you get them realised? What steps exist to get from an idea to a policy? By asking young people about what concerns them and what ideas they have for the future, EDUbox teaches them how these ideas can come to life through politics.

Establishing best practice media literacy design principles

For educators & journalists

As part of the ‘Establish’ pillar under Ofcom’s Making Sense of Media (MSOM) strategy, Ofcom has created a suite of best practice principles to help online platforms: 1)  Become accountable for making media literacy a priority and increase transparency around media literacy interventions; 2)  Ensure the development of timely media literacy initiatives that put user needs at the centre of the design process; and 3)  Monitor and evaluate media literacy interventions on an ongoing basis. Ofcom is currently updating these principles following consultation and will publish the update in due course.

Evaluating online media literacy initiatives

For educators & journalists

As part of the ‘Evaluate’ pillar under Ofcom’s MSOM strategy, Ofcom has been working to enable the providers of media literacy initiatives to assess how far their objectives are being met and guide future improvements. As part of this, Ofcom published an Evaluation Toolkit in February 2023, which includes a series of how-to guides for planning and carrying out an evaluation of media literacy initiatives.

Evaluation of Students’ Ability to Detect Misinformation After Learning Media Literacy Techniques in School

For educators

This evaluation from IREX demonstrates the effectiveness of media literacy techniques in enhancing students’ ability to identify misinformation. By incorporating Learn to Discern curriculum, educators can empower students to navigate the information landscape critically.

Fact vs. Fiction in the Media

For educators & journalists

From PBS NewsHour, this resource helps educators and media literacy advocates teach students to discern fact from fiction in news sources. By understanding the differences and recognising unreliable information, students can navigate the media landscape responsibly. Discover more media literacy resources from PBS LearningMedia’s news and media literacy collection.

Fact vs opinion vs analysis

For educators & journalists

What are the differences between fact, opinion, and analysis in a news story? Explore this resource from ABC Education to learn how to distinguish between these elements when consuming media content.

Factcheckers

For educators

This teaching package from Mediawijs equips students with the skills to discern fact from fiction in news sources. By learning to recognise misinformation and how to fact-check posts and images, students can become real fact-checkers. Through engaging with this resource, educators can empower students to critically evaluate online information and promote media literacy skills.

Five Key Questions

For journalists

This infographic from the Center for Media Literacy (CML) features five key questions for constructing media messages. Associated with essential concepts, these questions serve as a reliable starting point for exploring media production effectively.

Five tips for teaching MIL

For educators & journalists

Media and information literacy is a vast field and it can be overwhelming for those who are new to the topic. DW Akademie trainer Evaldas Rupkus shares his top tips for teaching MIL.

Guidelines for broadcasters on promoting user-generated content and media and information literacy

For journalists

Developed by UNESCO and the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, these guidelines encourage broadcasters to enhance the quality of user-generated content through improved media and information literacy. By interacting with audiences to promote media literacy, broadcasters can foster informed and responsible engagement with user-generated content.

How to check online information?

For educators & journalists

This resource from Mediawijs introduces the SIFT method, a step-by-step plan to determine the reliability of online information. By learning to apply this method, users can effectively evaluate claims and news reports, distinguishing between reliable and unreliable sources.

Introducing Africa: Critical Thinking and Media Literacy

For educators

From Ithaca College’s Project Look Sharp, this kit is designed to teach about diversity and unearth stereotypes about Africa.

Is this source reliable or fake?

For educators & journalists

This Mediawijs checklist helps users analyse news articles and distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources. By asking ten key questions, users can evaluate news articles and discern reality from fiction effectively.

Media and information literacy curriculum for teachers

For educators

This curriculum from UNESCO presents a holistic approach to MIL integration in teacher education. By addressing present trends and providing practical guidance, it equips teachers to foster MIL skills among students effectively.

Media and Information Literacy for youth: Online training tips for trainers

For educators & journalists

This publication from DW Akademie offers practical tips and tricks for trainers teaching Media and Information Literacy (MIL) online. By leveraging storytelling and engaging strategies, educators can make MIL concepts memorable and relevant for youth.

Media Literacy 101

For educators

Media Literacy 101 is a CBC Kids series that educates young viewers about digital citizenship and media literacy. Through engaging episodes, the series covers topics like online privacy, screen time management, and self-image in the digital age, aiming to empower children with essential skills to navigate the online world responsibly.

Media literacy: an introductory lesson plan

For educators

This resource from IREX introduces students to the impact of unreliable information and strategies to resist it. By reflecting on their media consumption habits, students can develop new strategies to navigate the digital landscape effectively.

Media Literacy Booster Pack

For educators & journalists

The Media Literacy Booster Pack by NewseumED is a resource for navigating the complexities of today’s media environment. Packed with tools to address key challenges like bias recognition and media contribution, this collection empowers users to stay informed and engaged. Accessible through a free NewseumED account, registration unlocks a treasure trove of videos, artifacts, and more.

Media literacy, immersive technology and the future

For educators & journalists

In June 2023, Ofcom published qualitative research on the use of immersive technology and immersive platforms. The research explores the way that immersive technology is currently used, how it may be a part of people’s lives in the future, and the emerging media literacy implications in this arena. This research falls under the ‘Research’ pillar of Ofcom’s MSOM strategy.

Media literacy is bigger than ‘fake’ news

For educators & journalists

Join ABC Education for an insightful exploration into media literacy education with Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, Executive Director of NAMLE. In this video, Lipkin delves into the significance of addressing deception and ‘fake’ news within media literacy discussions, offering valuable perspectives on navigating today’s complex media landscape. Discover more media literacy resources via ABC Education.

Mexican MIL Heroes defeat the Villains

For educators & journalists

Meet the Mexican MIL Heroes and Villains, characters developed by DW Akademie who embody the challenges of our media landscape and the skills we need to tackle them. The realities the Heroes confront are closely related to the Mexican context.

MIL Heroes and Villains guidebook

For educators & journalists

This guide from DW Akademie empowers MIL practitioners with storytelling strategies to make concepts memorable. By harnessing the power of storytelling, educators can engage students and audiences and promote meaningful discussions about media literacy.

MOOC: Think Critically, Click Wisely: Media and Information Literacy in the next normal

For educators

In this radio-based MOOC from UNESCO, users can explore 20 thematic modules designed to foster Media and Information Literacy (MIL) competencies. Aligned with the latest UNESCO MIL Curriculum for Teachers, this resource empowers practitioners and learners to navigate today’s media landscape with critical insight, addressing pressing issues like artificial intelligence and misinformation.

Ofcom’s media literacy initiatives library and Media literacy research library

For educators & journalists

Ofcom’s Evaluation Toolkit is complemented by two digital libraries with information on third-party initiatives and research on media literacy. Ofcom’s Media Literacy initiatives library references a diverse range of initiatives (from campaigns to online courses) for various audiences (from primary school children to the general public).

Online Critical Thinking Guide

For educators & journalists

This guide from Internet Matters provides tips on how to empower children to make smarter informed choices online.

Opinionmakers

For educators

This teaching package from Mediawijs helps students process information critically and build well-founded opinions. By addressing differences of opinion and empowering students to make their voices heard in society, practitioners can foster a culture of critical thinking and active citizenship.

TeaMLit Online Course

For educators

The TeaMLit online course is a free training program developed to enhance media literacy in education. It is available in English and suitable for both new and experienced teachers. Consisting of 5 modules, each lasting 45 minutes, the course covers essential aspects of media literacy and provides practical guidance for implementation in classrooms and schools. Upon completion, participants can earn two certificates.

Training Citizens to become MIL Heroes: DW Akademie’s Approach

For educators & journalists

In these insights from DW Akademie, the organisation explores its works with partners to provide information and media literacy training in more than 23 countries.

Understanding Media and Information Literacy (MIL) in the Digital Age: A Question of Democracy

For educators & journalists

Published by the UNESCO Chair on Freedom of Expression, Media Development and Global Policy at University of Gothenburg, this book presents a comprehensive exploration of media and information literacy (MIL) in the context of social change and Agenda 2030.

UNESCO’s Media and information literate citizens: think critically, click wisely!

For educators & journalists

This Curriculum from UNESCO presents a comprehensive competency framework of media and information literacy. It offers educators and learners structured pedagogical suggestions, linking media literacy to emerging issues such as artificial intelligence and misinformation.

Using NewsGuard in a Media Literacy Lesson: A Guide with Exercises for Educators and School Librarians

For educators

This guide from NewsGuard walks educators through a media literacy lesson plan, providing exercises to engage students effectively. By incorporating NewsGuard, educators can equip students with critical thinking skills to evaluate online information.

Want more media literacy at school? Here are five lessons we learned

For educators

Discover insights from DW Akademie on integrating media literacy into school curricula effectively. Explore practical strategies for preparing students to navigate the complexities of the information environment with confidence.