Teaching Media Literacy Analytics (MeLitA)

Existing media literacy education practices are focused on fact-checkers, combating hate speech, and recognizing unreliable news sources. However, research demonstrates disinformation spreads in ways much more complicated than previously thought, making traditional media literacy education insufficient in keeping up with the nuanced and complex nature of disinformation and the way it is shared. Additionally, the issue of politically biased journalism in mainstream and alternative media is becoming increasingly more pronounced, underlying the need for teaching strategies that enable in-depth critical analysis of all news content, regardless of its source. 

Enter MeLitA, a project designed to support teachers and other educators in delivering more meaningful media and information literacy education across curricula. Leaning on debate methodology to increase critical thinking skills and encourage independent research, MeLitA aims to help students navigate the complicated world of modern news and media.

Next, we are developing a methodological guide for teachers, with practical guidelines on approaching different subject areas) and educator skill development manuals, helping educators themselves to build their competences in order to be able to teach media and information literacy more effectively.

To further empower teachers and other educators to enter the media and information literacy arena, we are developing an implementation toolkit - a collection of lesson plans and exercises aimed at building key skills. The toolkit will explore critical media consumption, audience bias, media bias, the issue of misinformation, bias and fake news in democratic contexts, stakeholder analysis in news and media environments, silent incorporation of marketing into news and other media, news and information consumer responsibility, and more. 

Finally, in order for these materials to be readily available and maximally inclusive, we are building an E-learning platform, allowing users inside and outside of our network to increase the quality of media and information literacy education they are implementing.