Skip to main content

About the MLI Awards

Since 2023, the MLI Awards programme has been recognising the great work that is being undertaken across Ireland to help people, especially within communities, develop the media literacy skills they need to make the best use of media.

By shining a spotlight on the range and quality of media literacy initiatives that are being undertaken, we hope to promote best practice and encourage innovation, collaboration   and evaluation in media literacy projects.

The 2026 awards are now open for entries!

You can take a look at the winners from previous years here:
– MLI Awards 2023
– MLI Awards 2024
– MLI Awards 2025

 

2026 Categories

  • Best Media Literacy Initiative for Young People – any initiative (including projects, resources, training, research or campaigns) that helped empower children or young people under 18 and living on the island of Ireland, to develop skills, knowledge and/or competencies to be able to make informed choices about the media content and services that they consume, create and disseminate.
  • Best Media Literacy Initiative for Older People – any initiative (including projects, resources, training, research or campaigns) that helped empower older people aged 65 or above and living on the island of Ireland, to develop skills, knowledge and/or competencies to be able to make informed choices about the media content and services that they consume, create and disseminate.
  • Best Community-Based Media Literacy Initiative – any initiative (including projects, resources, training, research or campaigns) to help empower people living within a particular community (either geographic or community of interest) on the island of Ireland, to develop skills, knowledge and/or competencies to be able to make informed choices about the media content and services that they consume, create and disseminate.
  • Best General Media Literacy Initiative – any initiative (including projects, resources, training, research or campaigns) which helped (directly or indirectly) to empower people living on the island of Ireland to develop skills, knowledge and/or competencies to be able to make informed choices about the media content and services that they consume, create and disseminate. Projects or initiatives may take any form including, but not limited to: Training, Research, Outreach Programmes, Projects, Resources, Advocacy, Network-building, Funding.
  • Best Large-Scale Media Literacy Initiative – any media literacy initiative that helped people living on the island of Ireland to develop skills, knowledge and/or competencies to be able to make informed choices about the media content and services that they consume, create and disseminate, and which was delivered at a national level and/or ran or is running for three consecutive years, and /or operates on a budget of more than €75,000.
  • Best Media-Led Media Literacy Initiative – any media organisation, media professional or media collaboration which has consistently supported the work of MLI and/or promoted media literacy messages via their channels, in an empowering and engaging way to people living on the island of Ireland.
  • The Judges’ Award – a special, optional award. Applications or nominations cannot be made for this award. It can only be awarded if the Judges agree that a particular project or person deserves recognition for their exceptional contribution to promoting media literacy in Ireland.

Dates

  • Entries will open on Tuesday, 7 July, 2026. Apply here.
  • The deadline for entries is Friday, 4 September, 2026.
  • Details of the place and time of the awards ceremony will be announced soon.

Trophies

Category winners will receive a beautiful, hand-crafted trophy and Highly Commended projects will receive a beautiful MLI Awards wall plaque. Designed and hand-crafted by Cian Magill of Magill Woodcraft Ireland, the design is based on an abstract representation of an enlightened eye – symbolising the power within, that can be achieved with persistence and inner belief. It is also inspired by the concept of awareness, critical thinking, and one’s motivation to make a positive difference in the world.