Making Sense of Media Bulletin: September 2023
The bulletin summarises media literacy activities by a range of organisations in the UK and overseas. These activities include events, research, projects and initiatives, and a range of international contributions.
Editorial note
Thank you to all who shared their updates for this edition of the Making Sense of Media bulletin. We have provided points of contact wherever possible, for the purposes of collaboration between network members.
A reminder that these updates are provided by our network members and reflect their individual views and contributions. Inclusion here does not imply endorsement by Ofcom.
Previous bulletins are available upon request.
Save the date: Ofcom Making Sense of Media conference, 5 December
Join us for a day of media literacy networking, debate and exchange of ideas at Ofcom’s media literacy conference in central London on 5 December.
We’ll be talking about Ofcom’s work – and hearing from others about theirs – with a focus on supporting online media literacy through working with people and platforms.
More details to follow soon but for now please save the date, we’d love to see you there. Email Megan Dunn for more information.
Minority beliefs research report published
Research into the attitudes and experiences of those who hold minority beliefs in relation to health protection, climate change and the Russia/Ukraine conflict was published this month.
We commissioned the qualitative research – a standalone research project – to increase our own understanding of how and why people develop minority beliefs in an online context, and to share these insights more widely.
We also wanted to explore the relationship between types of media literacy and the formation of such beliefs. The research provides a detailed understanding of the ways in which these minority beliefs develop, spread and impact those who hold them, and demonstrates the importance of underlying knowledge and skills, as well as behaviour, in media literacy.
Ofcom awards tender to train 1000 teachers and health workers in media literacy
Last month Ofcom awarded tenders to two organisations who will be delivering media literacy training to a minimum of 500 teachers and 500 health professionals.
We have awarded the first tender to Shout Out UK and the second to STEM4. We are grateful to all who submitted tenders and are excited about what will be delivered by the end of the financial year.
Making Sense of Media Research Working Group – call for additional members
Researchers – in particular those with expertise in experiences of women and girls online, or generative AI and future technologies - are invited to apply for membership of Ofcom’s Research Working Group. The group, which we are expanding, meets virtually four times a year, with the aims of informing Ofcom’s media literacy and wider online safety research activity and improving the sector-wide evidence base in these areas.
To express an interest please email makingsenseofmedia@ofcom.org.uk by 15 October 2023. Please do share this opportunity with your networks.
We are unable to accept applications from individuals working for commercial research agencies.
VoiceBox virtual event on research into AI chatbots
Sign up to this online event where youth-led content platform and social enterprise VoiceBox will be unpacking their latest research into AI Chatbots and the impact they have on young people’s relationships and mental health.
The Coded Companions Report: Young People's Relationships With AI Chatbots - 12 October from 3.30pm to 4.30pm.
For more information contact Natalie Foos
InformAll and SP4IL to hold free London workshop
For more information contact Stéphane Goldstein.
Decrypting Crypto – Internet Matters
Cryptoassets have hit the headlines in recent years – as much as for their volatility, as for their growing popularity.
A report by Internet Matters explores an overlooked aspect of the discussion so far: the experiences of children with these products.
For more information contact Simone Vibert.
New report on personal messaging and misinformation
The Everyday Misinformation Project has published a new public report called Beyond Quick Fixes: How Users Make Sense of Misinformation Warnings on Personal Messaging.
The study argues that the links between “forwards” and the spread of misinformation ought to be made more explicit by Meta.
For more information contact Professor Andrew Chadwick.
Research explores adult views of emerging technologies
The Emotional AI Lab at the University of Bangor has published two research papers on UK adults' views of emerging tech, synthesising several years of UKRI-funded work.
The first, Blurring the moral limits of data markets, assesses adults’ views on being paid for personal data about their biometrics and emotions while the second, Human-First, Please explores the views of members of the British public on applications of biometric emotional AI technologies.
For more information contact Professor Vian Bakir.
Digital Wellbeing on a Budget – Internet Matters
Internet Matters has released new insights into the digital lives of children receiving free school meals.
This research shows that even when they are connected, children receiving free school meals have a worse experience online than their peers.
For more information contact Simone Vibert.
News Literacy Lab publishes impact report
The impact report for News Literacy Lab's curriculum shows students gained improved skills in assessing news credibility, identifying biases, and seeking balanced perspectives.
Moreover, the curriculum's unique focus on fostering hope highlights news literacy as a catalyst for positive social change.
For more information contact Jodie Jackson.
NewsWise launches project in North Yorkshire
The NewsWise programme will begin a project focused in the North Yorkshire region in January 2024, including work with primary schools in coastal communities and those with cohorts of service children.
For more information contact newswise@theguardianfoundation.org
Parent Zone publish visual and audio resources for SLCN children
Talk: Tech from Parent Zone is a range of visual and audio resources to support conversations about digital for children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).
The resources include printable flashcards, images for AAC software and definition sheets.
Shout Out UK delivers critical thinking sessions in schools
Shout Out UK, in partnership with the London Mayor’s Office on Policing and Crime (MOPAC), is delivering free interventions to increase media literacy in secondary schools.
Students will develop their critical-thinking skills and knowledge on harmful online trends such as red-pill ideology, inceldom, radical Islamism and Andrew Tate.
Those interested can register their interest online or contact Nikita Atwal
Bookings open for Guardian Foundation media literacy ambassador project
The Guardian Foundation has opened autumn bookings for its Media Literacy Ambassador project for schools and colleges in the Midlands, Greater Manchester and S&W Yorkshire.
Teens aged between 14 and 18 will be able to develop their critical analysis skills and build resilience to online misinformation in an innovative and engaging way.
For more information contact behindtheheadlines@theguardianfoundation.org.
Humber and Wolds digital inclusion network
Humber and Wolds Rural Action have launched a Digital Inclusion Network for 2023, with the aim of bringing people from different sectors together to share information, good news and challenges around how they are trying to fix the digital divide.
For more information contact Kate Holmes.
BBC publishes suite of free media literacy resources
The BBC's Other Side of the Story team educate young people on how to be more critical and curious about where the news and information they’re seeing and sharing online has come from.
Their new page on BBC Teach has loads of completely free and downloadable resources dedicated to media literacy.
For more information contact Luke Beddows.
Media literacy reflections from Kavi
KAVI, the national audiovisual institute of Finland, have published a series of videos (in English) from a range of media literacy experts who share their insights and reflections on various topics.
KAVI welcomes any contributions to the project with new videos as well as any feedback or suggestions.
Call for papers for fifth International Media Literacy Research Symposium in the Azores
Researchers are invited to submit proposals or abstracts for the 5th International Media Literacy Research Symposium.
The symposium will run 27 to 28 June next year at the Ponta Delgada Public Library and Regional Archive in Sao Miguel.
The deadline for submissions is 10 November 2023.
Please email imlrsnews@gmail.com with any queries.
Gibraltar regulator launches media and information literacy campaign
The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority has launched a MIL awareness campaign.
The campaign includes videos explaining the importance of media literacy and the risks and characteristics of disinformation, as well as providing a range of resources for critical use of the main social media platforms and for fact checking.
Slovakia Council for Media Services launches media and information literacy platform
CMS has launched its media and information literacy (MIL) platform (Media Literacy+) which aims to encourage respect in online discussions, make creators accountable and responsible, increase critical thinking and communicate about the impact of media content on mental health.
CMS has also published stories for social networks, and developed activities and workshops in schools and libraries, campaigns on Slovak PSM, and continues to publish its newsletter highlighting important MIL projects in other countries.