SH1904
Media and Information Literacy (MIL)
- A set of competencies that empowers
citizens to access, retrieve, understand,
evaluate and use, create, and share
information and media content critically,
ethically, and effectively.
- Increasingly becoming important due to the
ubiquitous nature of data, information, and
media in today’s society.
- Considered an essential and fundamental
skill for both digital natives, immigrants,
and aliens.
Breaking Down MIL
INFORMATION
LITERACY
MIL MEDIA
TECHNOLOGY
Figure 1. Components of Media and Information Literacy
MIL can be broken down into three (3) main
terminologies: media, information, and
literacy. However, in the context of today’s
society, as well as the rise of Industry 4.0, it is
also essential to understand technology in this
context.
Media – means and resources being used for
creating, delivering, sharing, and processing
information
Information – a broad term that covers
processed data; knowledge derived from study,
experience, instruction, signals, or symbols.
01 Handout 2
 student.feedback@sti.edu
Literacy – the ability to identify, understand,
interpret, create, communicate, and compute
using written or unwritten materials associated
with varying contexts.
Technology – synthesized tools that serve to
apply knowledge or technique to perform tasks
and obtain specific results
Media was traditionally defined as a
source of credible information where content is
provided through an editorial process
determined by journalistic values and where
editorial accountability can be attributed to an
organization or legal person. With the
explosion of data and accessible content by
means of online technology, this definition is
no longer applicable. Media is now defined as
any object (physical or not) that serves as a
source or channel for information. With this,
multiple types of media are used for varying
purposes.
Examples of Media:
• Traditional Media – relatives and
family
• Mass Media – television and radio
Purpose and Objectives of Media:
• Acts as channels of information and
knowledge through which citizens
communicate with each other and make
informed decisions
• Facilitates informed debates between
diverse social actors
• Means by which society learns about
itself and builds a sense of community
• Functions as a watchdog of the
government by promoting transparency
in public life and public scrutiny of
*Property of STI
Page 1 of 4

those with power through exposing
corruption, maladministration, and
corporate wrongdoing
• Acts as a facilitator of democratic
processes and one of the guarantors of
free and fair elections
With the explosion of data and its
accessibility, it is important to define and
differentiate data from information. Data refers
to facts, figures, and values. These are
generated in absurdly large quantities each day.
Information, on the other hand, is when these
data are processed and translated into
something meaningful or significant. An
example would be if you recorded how many
liters of gas you pump every morning. These
recordings and values are considered as data.
When you process this data to identify that you
are spending X amount of money on gas alone,
and conclude that you are overspending, this
now becomes information.
In relation to media, information is
dispatched, received, and processed through
various channels depending on the context. It
is, therefore, crucial to assess and process
information thoroughly to confirm its
credibility and stop the proliferation of false
information.
The use of technology in the context of
MIL is the same as media. However, it is
important to explain this separately due to its
nature. Technology or “new media” is
commonly known as the Internet. It is one of
the most valuable innovations of the 20th
century.
01 Handout 2
 student.feedback@sti.edu
SH1904
The simplest definition of literacy is the
ability to read, write, speak, and listen in a way
that lets individuals communicate effectively.
In the context of MIL, literacy refers to an
individual’s ability to receive, assess, process,
share, and create information effectively,
ethically, and properly for the purpose of
expressing oneself, interacting with others, and
contributing to society. However, literacy can
be further specified depending on the context.
Different situations may dictate different
competencies in literacy; a person may have the
competencies for media literacy, but not for
information literacy.
Though several forms of literacy will be
tackled throughout the course (e.g., computer
literacy, freedom of expression literacy, news
literacy, digital literacy), the focus on Media
and Information Literacy are the following:
• Media Literacy – This is the ability to
access, analyze, evaluate, and create media
in a variety of forms. It aims to empower
citizens by providing them with the
necessary competencies (knowledge and
skills) to engage with traditional media and
new technologies.
• Information Literacy – This is the ability to
recognize when information is needed, as
well as locate, evaluate, and effectively
communicate information in its various
formats.
• Technology Literacy – This is the ability of
an individual to use technological tools
responsibly, appropriately, and effectively.
With these tools, an individual can access,
manage, integrate, evaluate, create, and
communicate information.
*Property of STI
Page 2 of 4
 SH1904

• Media and Information Literacy – These

are the essential skills and competencies
that allow individuals to engage with media
and other information providers effectively,
as well as develop critical thinking and life-
long learning skills to socialize and become
active citizens.

01 Handout 2 *Property of STI

 student.feedback@sti.edu Page 3 of 4
 SH1904

Independent

Content
Considerate
knowledge
Media and
Information
Literate
Individual
Responds
Technology
Savvy
per
Situation

Critical with
Information

MIL is essential for everyone to understand and learn. It trains individuals to make
informed decisions, learn about the world, build a sense of community, maintain public discourse,
and engage in life-long learning.

Characteristics of a Media and Information Literate Individual

• They can independently process digital or printed texts of varying complexity, discuss and
elaborate their ideas with others, and understand and apply conventions of vocabulary and
grammar while also applying different learning strategies.
• They acquire, process, share, and translate deep information about their fields. They can
discuss and elaborate on disciple-specific texts and become experts in their field.
• They can adjust the way they communicate with others depending on the audience, task,
purpose, discipline, and other demands or factors in the situation.
• Not only do they understand the information being given, but they also critique the content,
delivery, and processing of data. They subconsciously question the media and give great
emphasis on the provided evidence (whether it is credible, relevant, etc.).
• They are capable; they effectively make use of technology and new media in a way that is
highly advantageous for the purpose of their communication.
• They acknowledge, understand, and respect others’ perspectives and cultures. They are
aware of individual differences and keep these in mind when communicating.

REFERENCES:
Abdul Wahab, S., Rose, R., & Wati Osman, S. (2012). Defining the Concepts of Technology and Technology
Transfer: A Literature Analysis. Internation Business Research, 61–71.
Connolly, M., & Giouroukakis, V. (2016). Achieving next generation literacy: Using the tests (you think) you hate to
help the students you love. Virginia: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (2019). Module 1: Citizenship,
freedom of expression and information, access to information, democratic discouse and life-long learning.
Retrieved from Media Information Literacy for Teachers: http://unesco.mil-for-
teachers.unaoc.org/modules/module-1/
What is Literacy? (2017). Retrieved from National Literacy Trust: https://literacytrust.org.uk/information/what-is-
literacy/

01 Handout 2 *Property of STI

 student.feedback@sti.edu Page 4 of 4