As the current digitally mediated environment becomes an ever more substantial means through which individuals structure their personal and social lives, it is increasingly important that they understand the complex nature of the media ecology. The media permeates virtually all domains of the lives of common citizens, embedded in domestic and social lives, education and training, work and leisure. Though it offers plenty of opportunities in all these areas, it also poses challenges at the personal and societal levels. Given the fast pace of technological change in our current media-rich ecology, the increasing of media-literate individuals is seen as a desirable societal goal in an age where media illiteracy tends to be regarded as problematic as traditional illiteracy. This environment also prompts a renewed effort to conceptualize, measure and disseminate media literacy worldwide, posing its own challenges for research and policy.
This conference wants not only to reach the scholar community interested in digital and media literacy, but also to encourage non-profit organizations and activists working on media literacy related initiatives to join us in discussion.