European inventory of
societal values of culture

Leaning - An approach to digital literacy through the integration of media and information literacy

Leaning, M. (2019). An approach to digital literacy through the integration of media and information literacy. Media and Communication, 7(2), 4–13.

This article examines the concept of digital literacy, which encompasses various educational practices aiming to equip individuals to function effectively in digitally advanced societies. Specifically, it focuses on information literacy and media literacy. After examining their development, the article proposes a future direction for digital literacy. The first section explores the historical development of information literacy, tracing its evolution through significant texts and declarations. In the second section, the focus shifts to media literacy. The authors examine the evolution of media literacy education in three distinct strands, each pursuing different political objectives and employing diverse techniques. These historical differences continue to influence contemporary media education practices. The article's final section highlights the strengths and limitations of both media and information literacy. Media literacy needs a comprehensive understanding of digital technology's nature and impact on new communicative practices. On the other hand, information literacy lacks the critical perspective typical of media literacy. The article advocates strategically integrating and revisiting both approaches to address these deficiencies and develop a digitally aware and critically nuanced direction for digital literacy.