UNIT I.

Media &
Information
Literacy
 MIL is built in 3 pillars

Critical Thinking Self-Expression Participation

Media Literacy and Information Literacy

are part of one another
 a) Understand why media and
other information providers
are important to development
and democratic societies

b) Know what media and other

information providers should
do to support development
MEDIA & INFORMATION and democracy
LITERATE
c) Recognize a need for information
 d) Carefully evaluate or judge
information and the content
of media and other
information providers

e) Organize information

MEDIA & INFORMATION

LITERATE f) Use and share information based
on moral principles or accepted
standards of special behavior
 g) Use information & communication
technology skills to access, produce
and share information and media
content

h) Interact with media and other

information providers to freely
express themselves, share their
MEDIA & INFORMATION cultures, and participate in
LITERATE
democratic and development
activities.
plural form for of the word
medium

serves as vehicles through which

something is transmitted or
shared

*In the field of communication

that ‘something’ is INFORMATION
 Media is also referred as the
fourth estate.

This term is about 250 years old and

originates with the development of
democratic governments in Europe
and America.

In the eighteenth century, government

was thought to be made up of three
branches, or estates.
Branches of state Europe and America, 18th century

1) The Executive which manages the day-to-

day affairs of the country or state
2) The Legislative which makes the laws of the
country/state
3) The Judiciary which enforces these laws;

Media as the fourth estate

Media as an institution important to the
maintenance of good government, a free
citizenry, and a healthy climate for business.
The aim of media is to make sure that:

a) Powerful institutions and

organizations cannot hide
information that citizens
should know about;

b) Citizens have the information

they need to make decisions
that affect civil society;
c) Those who do wrong or break
rules or laws do not get away
with it;

d) Human rights are protected

e) Citizens understand what they

can do when they need to
make social or political changes
Media make money in carrying out their functions.

Nothing is wrong with the media making money,

but it becomes a concern when media themselves
are corrupt or prepared to do anything to make
money, like using biased reporting, or unfair,
incorrect, or manipulated facts and information.
 When citizens use alternative media, blogs and
social media to critique the mainstream media, they
are sometimes called the
FIFTH ESTATE: Watchdogs of the watchdogs
Media
Physical objects such as radio, television, computers, film
and telephones that are used to communicate messages
and information

Social institutions whose primary function is to convey

information ethically and accurately to everyone in the
community, with the purpose of holding governments and
powerful organizations accountable and enabling citizens
to act responsibly on the information they receive.
 What do we mean by Information?
• Information consists of facts, figures, details or
particulars transmitted or learned about something
or someone
• Knowledge that you get about someone or
something
• Knowledge obtained from investigation, study, or
instruction
 What do we mean by Literacy?
• Generic- the ability to read and write
• We often hear
– print literate
– emotionally literate
– visually literate
– computer literacy
– media literacy
Media Literacy
is concerned with developing an informed and
critical understanding of the nature of the mass
media, the techniques used by them, and the impact
of these techniques. Ontario Association of Media Literacy (AML)
Information Literacy
is concerned with teaching and learning about the
whole range of information sources and formats.

To be “information literate”, you need to know

why, when, and how to use all of these tools and
think critically about the information they provide.
International Federation of Library Association and Institutions
 Media and Information Literacy

A combination of knowledge, attitudes,

skills, and practices required to access,
analyze, evaluate, use, produce, and
communicate information and knowledge in
creative, legal and ethical ways that respect
human rights.
Media and information literate individuals can
use diverse media, information sources and channels
in their private, professional and public lives.

They know when and what information they need

and what for, and where and how to obtain it.
• They understand who has created that information
and why, as well as the institutions.

• They can analyze information, messages, beliefs

and values conveyed through the media and any
kind of content producers, and can validate
information they have found and produced against
a range of generic, personal, and context based
criteria.
• MIL competencies thus extend beyond information
and communication technologies to encompass
learning, critical thinking and interpretative skills
across and beyond professional, educational and
societal boundaries.
• MIL addresses all types of media (oral, print,
analogue, and digital) and all forms and formats of
resources.
• Library
• News
• Digital
• Computer
• Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Information
• Television
• Advertising
• Cinema
• Games
Are you Media & Information literate?