The Role of Media Literacy in Saving Journalism

I've just started reading Charlie Beckett's new book "Saving Journalism So It Can Save The World" and before the end of the first chapter I came across a passage that made me think of NewsTrust.

Charlie writes in the final paragraph of the introductory chapter:

"And finally I want to reappraise the idea of Media Literacy. There is no hope for Networked Journalism if the practitioners and the public are not equipped for the task... For Networked Journalism to become a reality anywhere, it is about the public. It is about giving the people - formerly known as the audience - the skills and the resources to be participants in the process, to teach people how to take part in the news media, and to understand how it works. This is much more than the practical task of media studies. It is also about giving people the resources to adopt a critical engagement with journalism."

Of course, we couldn't agree more here at NewsTrust. To that end, we are planning to extend NewsTrust to include more news literacy tools in coming months. But, as Charlie points out, this is much more the traditional 'media studies.' It's not just about understanding the difference between opinion and fact, but calling a news article out, if it isn't up to par. It is about critical engagement in the daily news.

Comments

[Charlie Beckett]

Thanks for the mention - your work is very much about Networked Journalism, the core concept in my book.
I'd be fascinated to hear what you made at my attempt to bridge Old and New Media,
regards
Charlie

[Al Lieu]

Anyone nowadays can be part of media, all one has to do is to get on the blog and instantly you Are in the media.