Media and information literacy
Media and information literacy is a comprehensive concept proposed by UNESCO in 2007. It covers all competencies related to information literacy, including digital or technological literacy.
Media and information literacy is a set of knowledge, skills, attitudes, skills and practices that allow you to effectively extract, analyze, critically evaluate, interpret, use, create and distribute information and media products using all necessary tools in creative activity.
So why is media literacy important? The 21st century is the information age. If you are not in the world of information, you can instantly remain unaware of all the processes taking place and even become an unnecessary specialist. Information can be stronger than any weapon today.
Media literacy, on the other hand, means the ability to choose and perceive information correctly, carefully analyzing undesirable information.
Nowadays, Uzbekistan has a number of standards for bringing to administrative and criminal responsibility for the dissemination of false information, depending on its consequences. Is it possible to say that this is enough? Of course not. You can set up a punishment measure and apply it, but the effect will still be incomplete, since this is not an integrated approach.
The best way to avoid violations in the information sphere is media literacy. It is important to develop people's ability to choose the right black and white in the Internet space. Only then it will be possible to prevent possible violations in this area.
In recent years, the media has become a method of exchanging ideas rather than channels for transmitting information. As bloggers' activity on social networks grows, the opinions of community leaders are gradually pulling the audience out of traditional media and Internet information resources. Materials that are published on social networks, blogs, forums, photo and video hosting sites are widely discussed among users. Modern tools of communication are becoming increasingly untested or rumored sources of information. Unfortunately, this is still impossible to control.
Scientists argue that in the theory of post-industrial society, when information turns from value into a commodity, it is quite natural that its quality also changes depending on demand. The concern of international experts that information resources are increasingly filled with “fake” messages and humanity is moving into a new era – the era of post-truth (post-truth), has been justified.
Well, there are countries in Europe that have raised media literacy to the level of public policy, one of them is Sweden.
How Sweden teaches its citizens to think critically
This is also explained by the high level of education of the population, the developed system of media education in schools and universities, the availability of high-quality sources of information, and the active civic position of the population
For example, for grades 1-3, it is suggested to use a daily newspaper as an educational resource in the classroom. One of the exercises of media literacy can be guessing the material by the title. This exercise trains you to draw conclusions based on the title, and also develops your reading comprehension.
For high school students, a critical exercise is offered to verify the source of information: using several methods to confirm or deny the truthfulness of information.
More specificly, a conditional tenth grader in Sweden can safely check when some photo or video was created, whether it was posted on some other resources, and whether there are sources to rely on.
Interestingly, none of the Swedish politicians have their own media. In Sweden, there are only national media outlets, which are funded by the citizens themselves with their annual taxes. They also make special news releases for children so that it is accessible and interesting.
We can confidently say that in Sweden, they have been taught to be active participants in the media space since childhood.
Why teach media literacy to children from an early age? The information sphere may not always be covered by laws and regulations. Today, this industry receives news every minute, not hourly.
In modern society, media literacy covers all professions, whether it is a teacher, a doctor or another profession. If you do not have enough information skills and knowledge, you may also find yourself in a situation of deception.
The first examples of reality-distorting technologies are already known to everyone. Generative neural networks have already marked the beginning of the formation of a new multimedia world. They can be used to create videos that make people do things they've never done or say things they've never said. The founder of the technology, Jana Goodfellow, himself acknowledged the risks associated with these problems and suggested that in another 10 years YouTube will be flooded with fake videos that are difficult to distinguish from the real ones.
There are 5 principles of media literacy developed by Unesco.
Principle 1. Information, communications, library, media, TECHNOLOGY, and the Internet should be critically used by society. They are equal in status, and none of these sources should be considered more significant than the others.
Principle 2. Every citizen is a creator of information/knowledge. Everyone has the right to use information/knowledge and express themselves. Media and information literacy should be inextricably linked to human rights for both men and women.
Principle 3. Information, knowledge and communications are not always neutral, independent or impartial. Any conceptualization of information, its use and application should ensure transparency and clarity of this confirmation for all citizens.
Principle 4. Every citizen, although he does not show such an aspiration, wants to receive new information, knowledge and messages and understand them, to be able to communicate with others. Their right to do so should never be violated.
Principle 5. Media literacy and information literacy cannot be mastered immediately. It is a continuous and dynamic experience and process. It can be considered complete when it includes knowledge, skills and vision of the use of information, its creation and transmission, media and technological content.
Today, in order to increase the media literacy of the population and clarify the legislation in the country, the Information and Mass Communications Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan has developed appropriate media campaigns, their explanation to the population has been taken under control. In addition, the Agency organizes master classes with the participation of the world's leading scientists in the field of information. And also, today, close relationship is being established with popular social networks and messengers in the country, and joint work is underway.
On the basis of the above principles, fundamental changes and reforms in the information sphere are being carried out in the Republic of Uzbekistan. All citizens living in the country are constantly being explained the procedure for using their information and communications, as well as the useful and harmful aspects of the media.
First of all, we should not forget that only media literacy training by government does not give enough results. It is important to remember that being media educated is a benefit for all citizens, and civil society should be involved in this.
Ulugbek Kurbanbaev,
Head of Division of
Agency for information and Mass Communications
Republic of Uzbekistan
