European Commission: Pursuing Enhanced Media Literacy Practices

On April 8th, 2025, the Committee on Culture and Education hosted a public hearing titled “Enhancing Media Literacy in the Digital Age,” which explored the effects of digital technologies on media literacy.

Media-literate individuals are equipped to make informed choices, understand the nature of content and services, and fully utilize the opportunities presented by various communication technologies. They are better able to protect themselves and their families from harmful or illegal content. Media literacy also serves as a valuable tool in combating the spread of disinformation by enabling users to critically evaluate the sources of information and identify false or misleading content, as outlined in the Commission's guidance on strengthening the Code of Practice on Disinformation. Consequently, media literacy empowers individuals to engage in a more open and informed democratic debate. Regarding the advancement of media literacy, the work is ongoing, and best practices need continual improvement.

A new Committee

A new Committee on Culture and Education emerged following the recent elections in June 2024, chaired by Ms. Nela Riehl. Two sessions of hearings were conducted: the first focused on social practices in digital media and online disinformation, while the second addressed support for media literacy.

Ms. Francesca Pasquali, a Professor of Communication and Media Studies at the University of Bergamo, discussed the role of digital media in daily life, while Alessandro Orlowski, CEO of Research and Development at WoM srl, addressed issues of online disinformation. Fernanda Bonacho, a professor at the Polytechnic University of Lisbon and UNESCO Chair on Communication, Media Information Literacy, and Citizenship, elaborated on journalism's role in media literacy, and Will Kingston-Cox, Founder and Managing Director of Europinion, highlighted efforts to empower youth in combating disinformation. Other speakers included Ms. Krisztina Stump, Head of Unit for Media Convergence and Social Media at DG CONNECT, and Mr. Georgi Dimitrov, Head of Unit for the Digital Education unit at DG EAC, both from the European Commission.

We are currently awaiting the meeting's report. However, the new members of the Committee wish to review the results from the previous team (2019-2024) to establish new standards and goals.

Best Practices

Numerous initiatives are already underway, following the European Commission's adoption of guidelines on Media Literacy in 2023, but there is still much more to be done. The ERGA Action Group, funded by the EU, has compiled a list of best practices for implementing media literacy initiatives.

• In Finland, Media Literacy Week raises awareness about the importance of media literacy and informs target groups about the resources available to them. All work completed by partner organizations is shared through various media channels, accessible to all registered educators. The free availability of teaching materials under open CC licenses is a key element of the project's success.
• Some countries, including Belgium, have established multi-stakeholder networks to address media literacy issues. These networks have legal authority as they are created under national law.
• Sete Dias com a Media in Portugal is an example of a yearly project that involves diverse stakeholders—ranging from education and media regulation to academia, research, and security—to promote media literacy.
• Media Literacy Days in Croatia engage with a wide array of stakeholders in a structured collaboration. At the top of this network is a formal agreement between the Agency for Electronic Media and UNICEF, followed by each partner formalizing their cooperation with numerous higher education institutions, film centers, and NGOs at the next level. The third level includes voluntary projects, supported organizationally by the Agency for Electronic Media.
• The "Digital Balance" website in the Netherlands emphasizes user participation, as users are involved in research. Not only are they subjects of study, but they also raise awareness about mental, social, and physical health issues stemming from media behavior.
• The "Gyerek a neten" (Child on the Net) initiative from Hungary aims to help parents understand their children's online world and support them in recognizing their kids' digital habits.
• Casoris from Slovenia is a children's newspaper specifically designed to meet their needs, allowing young readers to understand news and current affairs while fostering critical thinking. Content is crafted by professional writers, teachers, and children.
• Project Sophism in Greece, targeting journalists, journalism students, and “citizen journalists,” provides specialized training for homogenous professional groups, guiding them in applying media literacy practices in their daily work
• An example of a nationwide initiative is the Be Media Smart campaign from Ireland, which is a comprehensive public awareness campaign focusing on media literacy.
• Similarly, national educational programs, such as those in Estonia, incorporate media literacy into their national curricula.
• In Belgium, the Questions Vives project enables secondary school teachers to receive educational materials via email (within 36 hours) that help address current issues in public debate. The materials are tailored to the specific needs and preferences of teachers.
• ZEBRA, an online helpline for digital media, is coordinated by the Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia. The initiative undergoes continuous monitoring and analysis, with a large-scale evaluation planned after the pilot phase. Weekly analyses demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement, which is a key objective for long-term projects.
• EDUMEDIATEST, coordinated by the Catalan Audiovisual Council and co-funded by the European Commission, provides resources for educators.
• In Germany, the JUUUPORT initiative underwent both qualitative and quantitative evaluations conducted by external scientific evaluators.
• Finally, the Nordic countries, including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, are planning to develop a common index to measure various aspects of media literacy across the region. This index could serve as a valuable tool for comparing and benchmarking media literacy levels throughout the Nordic countries.