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Mapping media literacy policy and

practice in Flanders (Belgium)

Media & Learning Conference

Brussels, December 12, 2013

Katia Segers, Lode Vermeersch, Anneloes Vandenbroucke, Jana Bens, Ilse Mariën, Elke Boudry.

What is media literacy?

Media literacy is the set of competences required to understand the

media in all their appearances and to deal with them critically. It encompasses the

ability to use and shape media in a functional and autonomous way, from an informed

and conscious choice. It enables the individual to participate in social and societal

processes.

Media literacy is a process itself (individual /

societal)

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Active media literacy

Critical media literacy

Functional media literacy

Mapping media literacy

policy and practice in

Flanders (Belgium)

Level of analysis

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130 organizations in Flanders and Brussels

working on media literacy in 2013

Sectors

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Arts and cultural heritage

Games

Media en media industry

Youth

Formal education

Research

Media literacy

Poverty and social integration

Socio-cultural work

Legal person

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Types of organisations

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Funding

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Scope

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Media literacy within the organisation

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Media

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Objectives

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Target groups

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Target groups versus objectives

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Field of media literacy

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• Media literacy field in Flanders is a broad field, spread over:

• many different societal sectors

• different policy areas

• Large diversity of size, structure and core business

• Research centres, federations, public libraries and youth organisations are prominent

• Industry is legging behind

• Mainly publicly funded organisations

Field of media literacy

Digital media are prominent. The number of organizations dedicated

to dealing with ‘classic media’, more specifically written press and

books is limited. Classic media literacy seems to be acquired!

Goals of working on media literacy are nearly always part of a

larger, societal goal: inclusion, autonomy, citizenship, …

Lack of structural harmony and active coordination

since 2013 : founding of Mediawijs.be

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Field of media literacy

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• Some major Flemish media companies take up educational initiatives to familiarize people with handling media safely.

• Projects such as ‘diginatives.be’ and ‘web experts’ almost solely focus on children and youngsters and hardly ever on adults or seniors.

Field of media literacy

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• Organizations often overemphasize “the risk side”

of media by underscoring aspects such as

protection, security, prevention, restriction.

• Given the fact that many media consumers are also

media (content) producers, the creative-productive

interaction with media needs more attention.

In conclusion

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• The pedagogical aspects of making people more ‘media literate’ are underdeveloped in Flanders. A lot of (international) material is rarely being exchanged extensively.

• Gap between recognized organisations ‘that count’ and many others that don’t feel acknowledged in the field