In 2024, media literacy became more important than ever, with new ideas and tools helping people handle mis and disinformation and understand the digital world.
This article highlights the top most-read media literacy articles of 2024, showcasing initiatives, projects, and research from Europe and beyond. These efforts include tools to fight false information, creative ways to teach students and seniors, and resources for teachers and communities. Each project shows how we can all learn to think critically and stay informed in today’s fast-changing media landscape.
While we strongly recommend the articles below, feel free to explore all the media literacy-related content available on the M&L website. We hope you enjoy reading them as much as we did!
1. Empowering Individuals: A Comprehensive Toolbox for Combating Online Misinformation by Nicole Siller, Max Planck Institute, Germany
This article by Nicole Siller from Max Planck Institute, Germany discusses a comprehensive toolbox developed to help individuals combat online misinformation. Created through a collaboration among researchers from 25 institutions, this open-access resource provides nine evidence-based strategies to identify and counter false information, such as fact-checking labels, media literacy techniques, and verification methods. Designed for a broad audience – ranging from everyday internet users to educators and policymakers – the toolbox, available for free, empowers individuals to recognise and resist misinformation.
2. Opening the future of education: Teaching AI Literacy with ChatGPT by Haeun Shin, Elementary School Teacher, South Korea
Haeun Shin presents an innovative approach to teaching AI literacy in South Korean elementary schools, highlighting the importance of enhancing AI competency through hands-on activities. As part of the country’s educational reforms, Shin implemented a cross-curricular project using ChatGPT to strengthen students’ communication and critical thinking skills. The project included various tasks such as a GPT quiz race in a Metaverse setting, a “GPT Question Contest” to teach effective AI interaction, and research on Korean independence activists using GPT in social studies. Shin emphasises that such metacognitive, project-based learning is essential for preparing students for the rapidly evolving digital world.
3. The Disinformation Challenge: the power of game-based learning in strengthening media literacy by Linas Skirius, Civil Resilience Initiative, Lithuania
The article by Linas Skirius (CRI) provides an overview of The Disinformation Challenge an interactive computer game designed to teach critical thinking and information verification skills. The Civic Resilience Initiative (CRI), a Lithuanian NGO, has partnered with the game-based education group Three Cubes to develop the project, which was primary aimed at Baltic youth. The game immerses students in scenarios where they must evaluate and verify the credibility of information, using open-source data. Supported by Google, the game is available in multiple languages and aims to help students navigate the complexities of disinformation in an engaging and effective way. The initiative recognises the need to adapt to the media consumption habits of younger generations, particularly their reliance on social media, by providing them with practical skills to assess the validity of the information they encounter.
4. Seniors United Against Misinformation: A European Initiative for Media Literacy by Irene Tortajada, Verificat, Spain; Tero Luksua, University of Lapland, Finland; Chiara Cremonini, Housatonic, Italy
The article presents SUM, a project led by Verificat (Spain), the University of Lapland (Finland), and Housatonic (Italy), aimed at promoting media literacy among seniors in Europe. Launched in 2022, the initiative targets older adults in Spain, Finland, and Italy, using a peer-to-peer learning approach to help seniors build critical thinking and information verification skills to navigate the digital information landscape with confidence. Trained seniors facilitate workshops within their communities, creating a trusted and engaging learning environment. The project, funded by the Creative Europe programme, has already recruited volunteers and organised workshops, with a focus on collaboration and co-creation. Through the development of a comprehensive toolkit, SUM seeks to enable other European organisations to replicate the project, empowering seniors to navigate the digital information landscape confidently and combat misinformation.
5. (equally placed) From global to local: customising EDUbox Politics for Belgium, the Netherlands, and Croatia
The article discusses the localisation of EDUbox Politics, an educational resource designed to teach secondary school students about politics and political decision-making. As part of the EDUmake project, the resource was adapted for Belgium, the Netherlands, and Croatia, tailoring content to each country’s political system and educational needs. In Belgium, it focused on the Flemish system, while in the Netherlands, a more interactive and gamified version was created. In Croatia, the content was translated and localised with Croatian political examples. Feedback from students and teachers in each country highlighted the resource’s engaging interactive elements but also pointed to areas for improvement, such as simplifying language. The article offers 10 recommendations for successful localisation, emphasising the importance of using culturally relevant examples and accessibility to improve educational outcomes across countries.
5.(equally placed) Seznam trains media literacy among teachers and librarians in Czechia by Peter Jančárik, Seznam.cz, Czechia
In an era where misinformation and disinformation challenge the integrity of information spaces, media literacy has become more critical than ever. Seznam.cz, one of Czechia’s largest internet companies, is actively addressing this issue with its innovative project, Seznam se s médii (Get to Know Media). Launched in 2019, this initiative empowers teachers and librarians with the tools and knowledge needed to foster critical thinking and informed media consumption. Through a combination of online courses, immersive workshops, and engaging resources, Seznam.cz aims to strengthen the media literacy skills of educators, thereby creating a ripple effect in communities across the country.