Media literacy – with critical thinking, reflection and ethical behavior at its core – is a key part of

what it means to be educated in today’s world

Currently, a lot of people go around saying they're educated because they’ve finished
university and have a degree. But really what does being educated truly mean? Does it only mean
having a paper from a certain university which proves that you attended a few dozen classes and
achieved a good enough grade?
I believe that many people tried to explore this matter but it goes without saying that their
research results are vague as it’s impossible to give a comprehensive answer to this kind of
question.
In fact, I agree that Media literacy is essential for everyone. And especially nowadays when
we live in an interconnected world and we just can't be separated from media influence because it
surrounds us, it's everywhere. Media know how to engross your attention, and how to promote the
ideas in the way that they need.
Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate and create media in a variety of forms. It
helps us to become competent and critical so that we control the interpretation of what we see or hear
rather than letting the interpretation control us. To become media literate is about learning to raise the
right questions about what you are watching, reading or listening to.
Media literacy comes hand-in-hand with critical thinking - the ability to think clearly and
rationally about what to do or what to believe. Critical thinking should not be used interchangeably
with being argumentative or being critical of other people. Critical thinking refers to the ability to
analyze information objectively and make a reasoned judgment.
Another thing that should be taken into account is Reflection – a process of examining and
interpreting experience to gain new understanding. It helps us gain insight and see how to move
forward. Reflecting helps you to develop your skills and review their effectiveness, rather than just
carry on doing things as you have always done them. It is about questioning, in a positive way, what
you do and why you do it and then deciding whether there is a better, or more efficient, way of doing
it in the future.
In addition to the above mentioned, ethical behavior is also significant. It means to behave
according to the moral standards set by the society which we live in. Our actions affect not only
ourselves, but also those around us. Many of our professional decisions involve ethics. Ethical
behavior is equally important in the workplace as it is in our personal lives. Ethics serve as a guide to
moral daily living and helps us judge whether our behavior can be justified. From my point of view, if
the person doesn't realize what is acceptable to do or to say in diverse situations he can't pretend to be
called an educated person.
To crown it all I’d like to mention that the top three skills that are supposed to be the most
trending in 2020 are thinking skills related to critical thinking, creativity, and their practical
application. Nowadays for every educated person it is crucial to locate and evaluate the right
information for one’s needs. Understanding of media methods of influencing, especially visual
language, helps us to be less susceptible to manipulation and make informed decisions. In order to
be called an educated person you should garner at least these skills and features.