by Mariam Gugulashvili, Communications Commission of Georgia.
Media literacy is a cornerstone of democracy, equipping citizens with the critical skills needed to analyze and interpret the information that influences their decisions. In an era increasingly dominated by digital platforms and rapid information exchange, the spread of disinformation and propaganda poses a significant threat to democratic processes and societal cohesion.
In this digital age, media literacy has evolved into an indispensable competence, empowering individuals to navigate a fast-paced, information-rich environment often characterised by unverified and misleading content. This skill is no longer optional but a crucial societal necessity, enabling active participation in decision-making and fostering resilience against information-related threats.
Effectively addressing these challenges necessitates the integration of media literacy into both formal and informal education, positioning education as a vital defense against disinformation. Within formal education, media literacy can be systematically embedded into school and university curricula, cultivating critical thinking and analytical skills from a young age. Informal education complements this by providing practical, real-world opportunities to apply these skills in everyday contexts. Together, these approaches establish a strong foundation for a media-literate society, one capable of preserving and strengthening democracy through critical thinking.
ComCom’s Role in Promoting Media Literacy
Building on this need for a media-literate society, the Georgian National Communications Commission (ComCom) has played a pivotal role in promoting media literacy in Georgia. Since 2017, ComCom has transitioned from being solely a regulatory body to becoming a driving force in shaping the country’s media literacy landscape. This shift marked the recognition of media literacy as a national priority. Drawing on its legal mandate, ComCom has adopted a comprehensive strategy that integrates both formal and informal education approaches, ensuring that media literacy is accessible to all citizens. Through this dual strategy, structured educational frameworks are complemented by community-based initiatives tailored to the specific needs of diverse groups, including the younger generation (pupils, students), educators (teachers, lecturers), parents, minorities, the elderly and people with disabilities. To ensure the success of the media literacy initiatives, ComCom’s actions are primarily shaped by the analysis of international best practices, especially those from Europe, which are then adapted to meet Georgia’s specific context and needs. In this regard, ComCom maintains active cooperation with governmental and international organizations (e.g., EU, UNESCO, UNICEF, USAID, World Bank), peer regulators, and civil society representatives to ensure the successful adaptation and implementation of media literacy initiatives.
Notably, in alignment with these efforts, ComCom recently endorsed the International Guide to Media Literacy Initiatives by the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO), joining forces with leading organizations dedicated to combating disinformation and promoting media literacy. The guide offers a structured framework for developing, implementing, and evaluating media literacy programs, organised around twelve principles such as setting clear objectives, ensuring inclusivity, promoting sustainability, adhering to ethical standards, and fostering a better understanding of the digital media landscape. By supporting the principles, ComCom seeks to enhance its initiatives and ensure that they yield meaningful and sustainable results.
A Systematic Approach – Integrating Media Literacy into Formal Education
Integrating media literacy into formal education is essential for combating the spread of disinformation and fostering informed decision-making. Schools and universities are key in equipping young people with the skills needed to navigate an information-rich world. In schools, media literacy empowers pupils to critically assess media content, understand digital platforms, and develop safe online habits. At the university level, it helps students analyze the societal impact of media and integrate these skills into their professional fields, preparing them to engage with media in a responsible and informed manner.
Building on this importance, research consistently shows that media literacy education enhances learners’ ability to analyze media content, reducing the likelihood of them falling victim to manipulation and bias (Levine, 2015).
Recognising these benefits, one of ComCom’s most significant achievements has been the integration of media literacy into Georgia’s formal education system. In 2022, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth (MESY) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), ComCom launched an ambitious project (“Integration of Media Literacy into Formal Education”). The project’s initial phase involved a needs assessment on media literacy in schools, surveying 1,500 students and 500 teachers to evaluate their awareness, skills, and readiness. The results showed that teachers recognised the importance of media literacy and were eager to improve their skills through training, while students felt their media literacy knowledge was limited but were open to learning more.
Based on these findings, and in collaboration with the MESY and the Center for Teacher Professional Development (TPDC), a media literacy educational standard, teacher guidebook, and training module were developed. These resources allow media literacy to be taught as an elective subject. To date, up to 2,700 teachers have participated in 4-hour training sessions, with a growing number indicating their interest towards the training.
As part of the initiative, in collaboration with MESY and UNICEF, ComCom organised several informational meetings with nearly 300 school principals to advocate for the integration of media literacy into formal education and enhance awareness of the subject among school leaders. These meetings offered the principals comprehensive information on how to introduce and select the subject within the curriculum.
Building on this groundwork, the project was launched in 2023 as a pilot program with 6 schools offering media literacy as an elective subject. By the 2024-2025 academic year, the initiative experienced a considerable expansion, increasing to 227 schools – a clear indication of the growing demand and success of media literacy education. Notably, 91% of these schools are located in regional areas, underscoring ComCom’s commitment to extending its reach beyond urban centers and ensuring media literacy is accessible to all.
Extending the efforts to higher education, ComCom has also forged partnerships with 7 universities, introducing media literacy as a standalone course in 2 universities and integrating it into the curriculum of another. In 2024, ComCom conducted specialised training for lecturers from partner universities, equipping them with the tools to teach media literacy effectively. Covering topics such as media and information literacy (MIL), cyber hygiene, and media influence analysis, the training enabled participants to develop tailored syllabus and integrate media literacy into their courses. This holistic approach ensures that media literacy education thrives across both school and university domains.
Informal Educational Initiatives as a Complement to Formal Education
While formal education plays a central role, it is also very important to incorporate informal educational activities as complementary tools to strengthen the media literacy effort. Informal learning activities serve as “fillers” that reinforce formal instruction, allowing youth to apply their media literacy skills in practical scenarios. By blending formal and informal educational approaches, it is possible to ensure a comprehensive, well-rounded media literacy education that prepares youth to face the challenges of the modern media landscape (Hobbs, 2017). Recognising this need, since 2018, ComCom has actively implemented a range of informal educational initiatives to complement its formal programs. Notable innovative projects such as “Truth or Fiction,” “Media Key,” “Media Economics,” “Hello Ruby,” “Media Literacy Day at Schools,” and “Happy Onlife” are among its efforts. Additionally, as part of the UNESCO Global MIL Week’24, ComCom pioneered the “Media Literacy Olympiad,” a project aimed at raising awareness about media literacy and embracing ways to combat disinformation. The Olympiad invited school teams from two age groups (grades I–V and VI–XII) to creatively address the question, “How to Deal with Disinformation?” using formats such as articles, comics, videos, podcasts, and posters. The winning schools received media labs equipped with cutting-edge technologies to further help pupils to produce high-quality media content, and the top ten works will be showcased on the online media literacy platform (www.mediatsigniereba.ge), further amplifying their impact.
The Olympiad received over 500 applications involving more than 2,800 school children and 400 teachers, with significant participation from regional areas – only a third of the teams hailed from the capital. This widespread representation underscores the project’s success in decentralising educational opportunities and fostering critical thinking skills, extending beyond major cities to reach communities across the entire country. The initiative has not only empowered participants but also laid a strong foundation for tackling disinformation among the school community.
Building on this momentum, ComCom also launched a “Media Literacy Hackathon” within the framework of the UNESCO MIL Week’24. The event focuses on pressing issues such as disinformation, cybersecurity and digital literacy. Participating teams were challenged to develop innovative solutions to these challenges, with financial prizes awarded to the 3 most impactful ideas.
Collectively, these informal educational initiatives support ComCom’s mission to enhance media literacy and equip the younger generation with the skills needed to critically navigate today’s information-overloaded media and digital landscape.
Unified Media Literacy Platform
To complement the above-mentioned on-the-ground initiatives, ComCom has leveraged digital platform to amplify the reach and impact of its media literacy activities. The online portal www.mediatsigniereba.ge, developed with the support of the Council of Europe (CoE), serves as a hub for open educational resources. It features content on crucial topics such as disinformation, fact-checking, cybersecurity and digital citizenship/education. Moreover, the platform acts as a collaborative space, uniting international stakeholders, civil society organisations, and public agencies dedicated to advancing media literacy in Georgia.
The impact of ComCom’s media literacy activities is measurable, the portal boasting over 90,000 visitors, 800 subscribers, 130 articles, and 30 member organisations. By seamlessly integrating digital tools into its comprehensive media literacy strategy, ComCom creates a cohesive connection between formal education, informal initiatives, and the digital landscape.
Impact in Numbers
The impact of ComCom’s media literacy initiatives is evident, as shown in the data below, highlighting the direct beneficiaries reached by October 2024.
Path Forward
Looking ahead, ComCom remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing media literacy throughout Georgia, striving to expand both its reach and impact. Recognising the evolving challenges posed by the digital age, the Commission has outlined visionary plans to introduce new initiatives and collaborate with local and international partners on impactful projects. These efforts aim to further embed media literacy into the fabric of Georgian society, equipping individuals with the critical skills needed to navigate and counter the growing threats of disinformation.
By fostering a media-savvy citizenry, ComCom seeks not only to empower individuals but also to enhance societal resilience, ensuring a robust defense against information-related challenges and a stronger democratic foundation across the country.
*This article complements “Integrating Media Literacy into Formal Education: The Georgian Experience” by Mariam Dakhundaridze, which can be accessed here:
References:
- ComCom Annual Report. 2023. Available: https://comcom.ge/uploads/other/13/13950.pdf
- European Platform of Regulatory Authorities (EPRA). 2024. Georgia’s Achievements in Media Literacy: ComCom’s Vision in Action. Available – https://www.epra.org/news_items/georgia-s-achievements-in-media-literacy-comcom-s-vision-in-action
- Hobbs, R. 2017. Media Literacy in a Digital Age. Cambridge: Polity Press
- Levine, P. 2015. Media Literacy for the 21st Century. Democracy and Education
Author
Mariam Gugulashvili, Chief Specialist of Media Literacy Development Department, Communications Commission of Georgia
