UNESCO - Five Laws of Media and Information Literacy
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) have launched their Five Laws of Media and Information Literacy (MIL).
Media and Information Literacy recognizes the primary role of information and media in our everyday lives. It lies at the core of freedom of expression and information – since it empowers citizens to understand the functions of media and other information providers, to critically evaluate their content, and to make informed decisions as users and producer of information and media content.
Five Laws of Media and Information Literacy:
Law 1 - Information, communication, libraries, media, technology, the Internet as well as other forms of information providers are for use in critical civic engagement and sustainable development. They are equal in stature, and none is more relevant than the other or should be ever treated as such.
Law 2 - Every citizen is a creator of information / knowledge and has a message. They must be empowered to access new information / knowledge and to express themselves. MIL is for all – women and men equally – and a nexus of human rights.
Law 3 - Information, knowledge, and messages are not always value neutral, or always independent of biases. Any conceptualization, use and application of MIL should make this truth transparent and understandable to all citizens.
Law 4 - Every citizen wants to know and understand new information, knowledge, and messages as well as to communicate, even if she/he is not aware, admits or expresses that he / she does. Her / his rights must however never be compromised.
Law 5 - Media and information literacy is not acquired at once. It is a lived and dynamic experience and process. It is complete when it includes knowledge, skills, and attitudes, when it covers access, evaluation / assessment, use, production and communication of information, media, and technology content.
