Media and Information Literacy: Policy and Strategy Guideline ( published by UNESCO)
In the evolving knowledge societies of today, some people are overloaded with information,
others are starved for information. Everywhere, people are yearning to freely express themselves,
to actively participate in governance processes and cultural exchanges. Universally, there is
a deep thirst to understand the complex world around us. Media and Information Literacy
(MIL) is a basis for enhancing access to information and knowledge, freedom of expression,
and quality education. It describes skills, and attitudes that are needed to value the functions
of media and other information providers, including those on the Internet, in societies and
to find, evaluate and produce information and media content; in other words, it covers the
competencies that are vital for people to be effectively engaged in all aspects of development.
More and more countries are recognising this importance of MIL. This is evident in the over 70
countries that are implementing MIL-related activities in varying degrees and reach.1 Yet, at
present only a handful of states have put in place national MIL-related policies and elaborated the
strategies that are needed to sustain their efforts. Meanwhile, research has shown that countries
with national MIL policies and strategies have more far reaching and sustained programmes.2
This comprehensive MIL Policy and Strategy Guidelines resource is the first of its kind
to treat MIL as a composite concept, unifying information literacy and media literacy as
well as considering the right to freedom of expression and access to information through
ICTs. These guidelines offer a harmonized approach, which in turn enables all actors to
articulate more sustained national MIL policies and strategies, describing both the process
and content to be considered.
The MIL Policy and Strategy Guidelines resource is divided into two parts. Part 1 is the MIL
Policy Brief, and is designed for policy or decision makers and can serve as a summary of
the publication. Part 2 is divided into several comprehensive chapters and suggests: 1) how
to enlist MIL a development tool; 2) conceptual frameworks for MIL policies and strategies;
and 3) model MIL policy and strategies that can be adapted by countries globally.
This resource is a part of a comprehensive MIL Toolkit being developed by UNESCO and
partners. The full MIL Toolkit will include: 1) the MIL Curriculum for Teachers (already
produced and available on our website); 2) the Global MIL Assessment Framework; (already
produced and available on our website) 3) Guidelines for Broadcasters to Promote MIL
and User-Generated Content (already produced and available on our website); 4) an online
multimedia MIL teaching resources tool; and 5) model online MIL and intercultural dialogue
courses (one is already developed and available on our website).
UNESCO encourages all countries to develop national MIL policies and strategies by using
these guidelines and the other resources described above. In this way, governments and
all stakeholders can ensure the integration of MIL policies and strategies with policies,
regulations and laws relating to access to information, freedom of expression, media,
libraries, education, and ICTs.
Jānis Kārkliņš
Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information
UNESCO