University of Kwazulu-Natal

Media Education And Media Literacy As A Factor In Combating Disinforma

Bonisiwe Shabane
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media education and media literacy as a factor in combating disinforma

Voitovych, N.; Kitsa, M.; Mudra, I. Media Education and Media Literacy as a Factor in Combating Disinformation. Journal. Media 2025, 6, 188. https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6040188 Voitovych N, Kitsa M, Mudra I.

Media Education and Media Literacy as a Factor in Combating Disinformation. Journalism and Media. 2025; 6(4):188. https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6040188 Voitovych, Natalia, Mariana Kitsa, and Iryna Mudra. 2025.

"Media Education and Media Literacy as a Factor in Combating Disinformation" Journalism and Media 6, no. 4: 188. https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6040188 Voitovych, N., Kitsa, M., & Mudra, I. (2025). Media Education and Media Literacy as a Factor in Combating Disinformation.

Journalism and Media, 6(4), 188. https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6040188 Disinformation is more complex than ever, making media and information literacy education crucial. Image: Unsplash/Hartano Creatives The ability to critically engage with information is more important than ever. From viral falsehoods and deepfakes to emotionally manipulative content designed to mislead or divide, the information environment has become increasingly complex and opaque.

In this context, media and information literacy have emerged as a global priority, recognized not only as a key individual skill set but also a foundational pillar for safeguarding democratic discourse, social cohesion and... Media and information literacy equips individuals with the tools to access, analyze, evaluate and create information responsibly, empowering them to navigate a digital ecosystem shaped by algorithmic curation, commercial incentives and evolving threats. Yet, its significance extends beyond personal empowerment. As disinformation campaigns grow more sophisticated and pervasive, the need for a whole-of-society approach becomes clear, one that integrates media and information literacy into education systems, workplace training, public service messaging and digital platform... HomeNuméros10ArticlesFighting disinformation through m... The new media ecosystem has deeply transformed the way online disinformation spreads and multiplies in the last few years.

Consistent efforts have been made at national and European levels to find efficient ways to fight disinformation and raise public awareness about the dangers associated with it. In this context, the current study gathers expert opinions about current practices and possible ways to intervene through public policies in fighting disinformation, with a focus on media literacy solutions. In European-funded project YouVerify, in-depth interviews were conducted with disinformation fighters, journalists, and policy makers (N=30) in three European countries (France, Romania, and Spain), to find solutions that could actively contribute to implementing public... The main results show similarities and differences between the three countries, especially in projected future solutions. All respondents see the enhancement of current practices as mandatory in the future. Additionally, in France, interviewees see fact-checking, quality journalism, and media regulation as the main drivers of the fight against disinformation, while in Romania experts focus on research and education, and in Spain on education...

Experts in all countries consider media literacy as key instrument of the future policies to fight disinformation. Ces dernières années, l'écosystème des nouveaux médias a profondément transformé les modes de propagation de la désinformation en ligne. Au niveau national comme européen, de nombreux efforts ont été déployés pour élaborer des stratégies de lutte efficace contre la désinformation et sensibiliser le public à ses dangers. Dans ce contexte, la présente étude recueille les avis d'experts sur les pratiques actuelles et les politiques publiques de lutte contre la désinformation, en considérant en particulier la question de l'éducation aux médias. Dans le cadre du projet YouVerify financé par l'Union européenne, des entretiens approfondis ont été menés avec des spécialistes de la lutte contre la désinformation, des journalistes et des décideurs politiques (N=30) dans trois... Les principaux résultats montrent des similitudes et des différences entre les trois pays, notamment en ce qui concerne les solutions envisagées pour l'avenir.

Toutes les personnes interrogées considèrent qu’il est impératif d’aller vers une amélioration des pratiques actuelles. En France, les personnes interrogées voient dans la vérification des faits, le journalisme de qualité et la régulation des médias les principaux moteurs de la lutte contre la désinformation, tandis qu'en Roumanie, les experts... Mais l'éducation aux médias reste pour tous un instrument clé des futures politiques de lutte contre la désinformation. This research was funded by the EU grant YouVerify (Media Literacy for all framework) 1The digital environment provides new ways for producing and customizing information, but also for manipulating and disrupting information flows. Terms such as “information disorders” or “fake news” have come to represent both the growing supply of disinformation across media and the receding trust in democratic institutions, be it in politics, health or media.1...

Combating Disinformation in the Digital Age: A Global Call for Media Literacy In an era defined by instant access to information, the proliferation of disinformation poses a significant threat to societies worldwide. Disinformation, defined as deliberately misleading information disseminated to manipulate public opinion and erode trust in established media, has become increasingly prevalent in the digital landscape. From social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok to messaging apps like WhatsApp, false narratives can spread rapidly, jeopardizing public discourse and hindering access to accurate information during critical events such as elections, conflicts,... Recognizing the urgency of this issue, the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) convened a workshop in Taipei, Taiwan, focusing on media literacy as a crucial defense against the insidious spread of disinformation. The GCTF workshop brought together a diverse array of stakeholders, including government officials, media professionals, academics, and civil society representatives from around the globe.

The central theme of the workshop revolved around empowering individuals with the skills to critically assess information and identify disinformation. Participants engaged in discussions on best practices for combating disinformation, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between governments, civil society organizations, and media outlets. The workshop underscored the need for a multi-faceted approach to address the complex challenges posed by disinformation, recognizing that media literacy is a shared responsibility. The workshop highlighted the critical role of fact-checking in countering disinformation. Participants learned techniques for verifying information and identifying misleading narratives. The importance of questioning the source and motivation behind information was emphasized, as disinformation often stems from biased or propagandistic agendas.

Recognizing that disinformation campaigns frequently target specific demographics or exploit existing societal divisions, the workshop explored strategies for tailoring media literacy initiatives to address specific vulnerabilities. Case studies from various countries provided real-world examples of the impact of disinformation and the effectiveness of media literacy interventions. One participant from the Kingdom of Eswatini shared her experience with combating false information about her country’s political system. She emphasized the importance of correcting misconceptions and providing accurate information to counter misleading narratives. Another participant from Thailand highlighted the challenges posed by disinformation in the context of regional conflicts, where online propaganda can exacerbate tensions and fuel animosity.

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Voitovych, N.; Kitsa, M.; Mudra, I. Media Education And Media

Voitovych, N.; Kitsa, M.; Mudra, I. Media Education and Media Literacy as a Factor in Combating Disinformation. Journal. Media 2025, 6, 188. https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6040188 Voitovych N, Kitsa M, Mudra I.

Media Education And Media Literacy As A Factor In Combating

Media Education and Media Literacy as a Factor in Combating Disinformation. Journalism and Media. 2025; 6(4):188. https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6040188 Voitovych, Natalia, Mariana Kitsa, and Iryna Mudra. 2025.

"Media Education And Media Literacy As A Factor In Combating

"Media Education and Media Literacy as a Factor in Combating Disinformation" Journalism and Media 6, no. 4: 188. https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6040188 Voitovych, N., Kitsa, M., & Mudra, I. (2025). Media Education and Media Literacy as a Factor in Combating Disinformation.

Journalism And Media, 6(4), 188. Https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6040188 Disinformation Is More Complex

Journalism and Media, 6(4), 188. https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6040188 Disinformation is more complex than ever, making media and information literacy education crucial. Image: Unsplash/Hartano Creatives The ability to critically engage with information is more important than ever. From viral falsehoods and deepfakes to emotionally manipulative content designed to mislead or divide, the info...

In This Context, Media And Information Literacy Have Emerged As

In this context, media and information literacy have emerged as a global priority, recognized not only as a key individual skill set but also a foundational pillar for safeguarding democratic discourse, social cohesion and... Media and information literacy equips individuals with the tools to access, analyze, evaluate and create information responsibly, empowering them to navigate a digital ecosys...