The Finnish Lifelong Learning Foundation, Kvs, in partnership with The Birzeit University Media Development Center (MDC), has published an updated media literacy guide for adults navigating the fast-changing media landscape of the digital era.
Media Guide – Media Literacy for Adults is published both in English and Arabic and is freely available for teaching and self-study purposes at www.mediaguide.fi.
The online guide has been designed to benefit professional journalists, media influencers, citizen journalists and anyone who is interested in learning how the media works. It has been produced as part of the Kvs Foundation’s Media Literacy for Sustainable Society in Palestine cooperative development project. The guide is edited by Karoliina Knuuti.
The project, realised in partnership between the Kvs Foundation, MDC and Bethlehem University’s Institute for Community Partnership (ICP), aims to develop a duplicable model for adult media literacy training in fragile or conflict areas.
Particularly in these areas, media literacy training can play an important role in promoting democratic structures and preventing radicalisation. Good media literacy helps people acquire information but also identify unreliable sources and inappropriate influence attempts.
As the global media sphere is in a constant state of flux, there is an urgent need for up-to-date information about basic principles of journalism and media.
The rise of new media technologies means that people are producing more content online than ever before, and the traditional lines between media professionals and consumers are shifting. Simultaneously many trends, such as polarisation, spread of misinformation, radicalisation of social discussion – and most recently the global covid-19 pandemic – highlight the importance of critical media literacy skills.
Media Guide – Media Literacy for Adults aims to tackle these challenges by providing easy to read, practical information about ethical journalism, freedom of speech, critical reading of social media and the role of media advocacy.
Media Guide is the second and fully revised edition of the textbook of the same title published in 2016.
The Kvs Foundation, MDC and ICP are set to continue their joint media literacy education work in 2021-2022. The new project beginning in 2021 will further develop the partnership model and focus on strengthening the media literacy skills of Palestinian teachers.
“Media literacy is critical in fragile or conflict areas, where facts and verified information as the basis on communication can easily be forgotten. We want to take our expertise into these areas to strengthen the civil society. When we train teachers of different disciplines in media literacy, the impact of the work will be multiplied,” says Lauri Tuomi, the CEO of the Kvs Foundation.
This will be the third time the Kvs Foundation, MDC and ICP work together on media literacy in Palestine.
“There is a need to empower both media professionals and non-media professionals to read media material critically, verify information and combat false news. Media literacy programmes should also be refined and revisited to keep pace with all developments in the world of communication,” says Emad Alasfar, Monitoring & Evaluating Coordinator of MDC.
These joint media literacy training projects are funded by appropriations for development cooperation from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
The organisations:
The Kvs Foundation is politically and religiously non-affiliated organisation established in 1874, with core expertise is in the fields of learning, innovations and communication.
The Birzeit University Media Development Centre (MDC) was established in 1996 and is dedicated to developing and sustaining an environment of media freedom, independence and pluralism in Palestine.
The Bethlehem University’s Institute for Community Partnership (ICP) was founded in 1989 with the mission for strengthening the ties between Bethlehem University and the Palestinian community.
Media Guide – Media Literacy for Adults
Editor: Karoliina Knuuti
Publisher: The Kvs Foundation
ISBN 978-951-9140-75-9 Media Guide (web)
Further information:
Dr Lauri Tuomi, CEO of the Kvs Foundation: lauri.tuomi@kvs.fi, +358 50 4769 977
Nibal Al-Thwabteh, Executive Director of MDC: [email protected]
Finnish Lifelong Learning Foundation – Lifelong Learning is the basis of society!
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