Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Skip to main content

Media and Information Literacy Cities Empowering people and information cultures

date November 5, 2024 | 17:00 - 18:30
place
Multipurpose room 22
organization
United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO
country
Egypt
language
English
Reference: 
NE 22-03

Summary

People are increasing reliant on information, digital technologies, and media as they go about their daily lives and engage in cultural exchanges within cities. Whether they are using public transportation, healthcare facilities or going out for entertainment, information and messages from electronic/billboards, signs, posters, music, and digital apparels are just everywhere. Yet through technology mediated interactions and experiences people sometimes encounter gender stereotypical, discriminatory or racist information which hampers cultural understanding and peace. Media and information literacy helps people to more consciously and wisely read their world, cities, and informational social interaction therein – getting involved in solutions to countering the challenges and heightening cultural diversity and community cohesion.

Media and Information Literacy Cities is an innovative way to promote media and information literacy learning in physical and virtual cities’ spaces through cooperation with key local public and private actors (for example health, transportation, entertainment, construction industries, city developers, municipalities, local government, mayors’ networks, election authorities, media, digital platforms, regulators, etc. ) and central stakeholders (schools, libraries, community centers, universities, NGOs among others) of media and information literacy policies.

It is built on the premise of cities as learning spaces. Cities are central to the future that we want. Modern cities are built not only of mortar and steel but also of information, cultures, and digital technologies and media. Media and Information Literacy is the compass to help navigate the information and digitally driven cities of the future.

Objectives

This event will stimulate multistakeholder dialogue on how MIL Cities can enable critical thinking citizens by applying Media and Information Literacy. A key focus will be on how key actors in cities ecosystems such as the education, libraries, transportation, health, entertainment and city planning industries as well as local authorities, private sectors and others, can promote Media

and Information Literacy as an enabler of cultural literacy and cultural innovation in physical and digital spaces to foster more sustainable and inclusive cities. Cities around the world are called on to become MIL Cities. The event will stimulate he the following global dialogue:

1. How can Media and Information Literacy contribute to the development of smarter, more sustainable and inclusive cities and what are some examples of what could be done?

2. How can Media and Information Literacy Cities be tailored to the unique needs and contexts of different urban populations, address a diversity of cultures, information and cultural rights, and promote cultural understanding while tending to the specific needs of women and girls, youth and marginalized and underserved communities?

3. What are some key adaptable resources and tools needed to facilitate Media and Information Literacy Cities development for cultural rights and diversity?
4. How can a city transform to a Media and Information Literacy City?

Session panelists

Panelist
Role
Organization
Country
Mr. Philippe Ternes
Co-head of network
Anna Lindh Foundation
Ms. Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi
Secretary General
United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific UCLG ASPAC
Ms. Jessica. Z Brown
Director
Director Gateway Media Literacy Partners
Mr. Marjo Kyllönen
Director of Education
City of Helsinki
Ms. Ms Bakhita Salem Al-Marri
Head of Awareness and Sustainability Unit
Al Rayyan Municipality