Welcome to the MLI Monthly Update!
Have something you want to share with the membership? Tell us about it by emailing us at info@medialiteracyireland.ie. We are particularly interested in including your resources in our new resources section of the MLI website.
This Month in Media Literacy
Where did that year go? It’s been a busy year and we’ve gathered together some of the MLI highlights on the website. If the contents of this, the last newsletter of the year, is anything to go by, 2026 will be another packed media literacy year. Don’t miss the funding opportunities and calls for contributions highlighted below. We also have links to interesting research on everything from AI and information integrity around elections, to news literacy and media literacy training programmes.
Announcements
European Democracy Shield: Empowering Strong and Resilient Democracies
On 12 November, the European Commission presented the European Democracy Shield, setting out a series of concrete measures to empower, protect, and promote strong and resilient democracies across the EU. The actions under the European Democracy Shield will further boost the EU’s ability to counter information manipulation and disinformation and strengthen resilience. European Commissioner Michael McGrath highlighted the European Democracy Shield and the vital role of trusted information in building a resilient and healthy society at the Citizens Information Board Informed Citizens, Strong Democracy: Why Trust in Information Matters. A short video of the event is available on the Citizens Information Board LinkedIn page.
Academics call for evidence-based debate on the future of public service media
More than 50 media academics from across Ireland have signed a joint statement highlighting the democratic risks of hollowing out RTÉ’s public service capacity. The statement, published on 10 December, highlights five common myths that shape public debate about Ireland’s public media infrastructure and calls for a strong vision for how public service media can evolve to support a resilient democracy and a cohesive society.
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A new Gadget Gift Guide from CyberSafeKids
CyberSafeKids has launched its Gadget Gift Guide, aimed at ensuring that children have a safer online experience. The guide seeks to help parents and guardians become better informed before purchasing smart devices for their children and young people. The guide is available to download here.
Over 50s warned about investment scams with AI-generated celebrities
In November, FraudSMART issued a fresh warning, particularly to those over the age of 50, to be on alert as highly convincing investment scams, promising guaranteed and profitable returns, continue to rise. The latest trend has seen a marked increase in the use of pop-up adverts online and on social media featuring fake, AI-generated endorsements from celebrities.
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Hibernia College updates and expands its Digital Literacy OER
Hibernia College has announced the re-launch of its Digital Literacy OER (Open Education Resources) with additional content. Launched in late 2023, the course covers information literacy, digital wellness and identity, and communication and collaboration. The updated version additionally looks at digital technology proficiency, solving common digital problems and creating digital content with AI support. This free resource may be downloaded here.
Adventures in media literacy: MilLab’s innovative approach to critical thinking
The Media and Information Literacy Lab (MilLab) is an interactive online platform of Media Development Foundation (MDF) in Georgia that is designed to promote critical thinking, media literacy, and responsible media consumption. It features educational resources, media literacy quizzes, competitions, interactive games and exercises that help users to better understand the media landscape.
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Adult Literacy for Life Collaboration and Innovation Fund 2026
Promoting the aims of the Adult Literacy for Life Strategy, the Collaboration and Innovation Fund offers finance for projects and activities that support adults with unmet literacy, numeracy, digital and financial literacy needs. The total funding available for 2026 is €1 million and the deadline for submitting your application is 22 January 2026.
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Creative Europe funding available for media literacy initiatives
The Media Literacy Call 2026 from Creative Europe supports innovative cross-border media literacy projects and practices across Europe. This funding aims to address the challenges of the continuously changing digital media landscape. The deadline for applications is 11 March 2026.
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Call for proposals: IAMCR Conference 2026
The International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) invites the submission of abstracts for its 2026 conference. Hosted by the University of Galway, the conference will take place from 28 June–2 July. The central theme for the 2026 conference is Peripheries and Connections: Media, Communication, and Transformation, addressing the complexities of contemporary media systems in a polarised and interconnected world. The deadline to submit proposals is3 February 2026.
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Call for proposals: Media and Learning Conference 2026
The next Media & Learning Conference will take place on 17–18 June 2026 in Leuven, Belgium. The organisers are accepting proposals on a variety of themes from policymakers, media producers, learning designers and educators. The deadline for proposals is 31 January 2026.
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Research and Reports
News for the Next Generation: A study of young people’s engagement with established news brands
New research by NewsBrands Ireland and Colourtext examined young Irish people’s engagement with established news brand platforms, news awareness, and perceptions of journalism, fake news, and advertising. The research finds that 16–29-year-olds in Ireland view established news brands as their most trusted sources in a complex media landscape, using them for verification, in-depth analysis, and credible reviews that influence their purchasing decisions.
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News Literacy in America Report: A survey of teen information attitudes, habits and skills
The News Literacy Project’s inaugural report had found that many teenagers are distrusting of news media in the US. The report reveals that 45% of teens think that journalists do more to harm democracy than to protect it and that only 56% believe that journalists and news organisations take journalism standards, such as accuracy and fairness, seriously in their work.
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Generative AI’s impact on search experiences and online safety
For decades, traditional search tools have helped people locate web pages to answer their questions, but generative AI search tools are changing that model by generating the answers themselves — a shift that has led some to describe them as ‘answer engines’. Ofcom’s discussion paper The Era of Answer Engines looks at how GenAI search works, the challenges it poses, and how safeguards, such as media literacy training, can improve GenAI search experiences.
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Ofcom report: What works in delivering ‘train-the-trainer’ media literacy interventions
A new report examines three media literacy ‘train-the-trainer’ pilot programmes for professionals working with children and young people. The report explores what works for this type of delivery, outlining common challenges and offering tips for organisations that are considering ‘train-the-trainer’ initiatives in media literacy for staff working with children and young people.
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Irish Presidential Election 2025: Report Reveals Widespread Disinformation and Platform Failures
A joint investigation by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and the Hope and Courage Collective documented and analysed 172 instances of political mis- and disinformation published on X, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube in the run-up to the Irish presidential election in October. Analysis identified many false, misleading and delegitimising narratives about both the electoral process and candidates, as well as the use of generative AI to create misleading or derogatory images targeting candidates
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Understanding Online Financial Harm: Fraud, Scams and Disinformation
A report by Ofcom’s Online Information Advisory Committee focuses on the area of online fraud where people are exposed to financial loss after exposure to false or misleading information. The report outlines how harms can result from false or misleading content online; it examines how these harms are distributed across age groups; and it offers recommendations on how to confront these challenges while upholding individuals’ rights. Read the full report here.
EDMO Updates
What is EDMO?
The European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) is an EU-wide network of factcheckers, media literacy practitioners, and researchers seeking to build resilience to disinformation. EDMO Ireland is one of 14 hubs that is part-funded by the EU. EDMO Ireland developed the Be Media Smart ‘Workshop-in-a-Box’, works on media literacy research and standards, and co-hosts the annual Disinformation Forum with MLI.
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Updates
EDMO Ireland in partnership with Media Literacy Ireland will continue to deliver LGMA media literacy training to librarians on 12 December.
Platforms Failing on Electoral Integrity: EDMO Ireland’s Initial Findings
EDMO has shared its initial observations of several concerning trends in how online platforms have addressed electoral integrity during Ireland’s 2025 Presidential Election. The patterns observed include amplification of disinformation via platform features, insufficient ‘user education’ tools and lack of labelling on AI-generated content. EDMO Ireland will publish a detailed report on platform behaviour during the election in the coming weeks and more on the initial findings can be found here.
Events
Media & Learning Webinar: Lines of speech: hate, harm and the laws across borders – 17 December
Part of a webinar series on digital and media literacy in Europe, this session will explore how hate speech is defined and regulated across different European countries, how media literacy can support individuals in navigating the legal and ethical boundaries of digital expression and rights, and the evolving role of libraries and public institutions in promoting informed, rights-based digital citizenship.
Register here
Teacher CPD: Critical media literacy – 27 January
Funded by Irish Aid’s Worldwide Global Schools, this free teacher CPD workshop will support teachers to develop skills in critical media literacy by building their students (and their own!) capabilities as active global citizens. The online session will offer tools and activities for the classroom and explore some ways to respond to global issues in the media as a whole school.
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International Conference on Media Literacy, Communication and Education 2026 – 2-3 February
Taking place online and in Malaga, Spain, the ICMLCAE-26 will focus on the discipline of media literacy, communication, and education and enable researchers from around the world over to gather together, learn from one another, share their expertise, and develop important policies and mechanisms. The deadline for registration is 18 January and abstracts for paper submissions should be submitted by 13 January.
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The Children’s Media Summit ’26
Organised by the Children’s Media Foundation in partnership with BAFTA, the Children’s Media Summit will take place in London on 16 February and will welcome delegates from children’s advocacy bodies, broadcasters, producers, researchers, the new platforms, regulators and policymakers. The aim will be to discuss and develop actionable proposals for change in order to build a better viewing experience for children and young people.
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In Case You Missed It
Fact-checking and fighting misinformation on air – 22 October
A recent session with the Learning Waves Radio Presenter Course looked at the vital importance to getting the facts right in today’s fast-moving media world. Delivered by radio industry professional Laura Donnelly, the key message for radio presenters was that it is better to be right than first.
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Youth Culture Uncovered 2025 – 29 October
The annual Youth Culture Uncovered 2025 event took place at THINKHOUSE HQ in Dublin, bringing together young people aged 16-35 to discuss their different perspectives on digital youth culture. This year’s Youth Lab explored the theme of influence, looking at how creators, content, and technology are reshaping youth culture and brand engagement.
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Weaponising the past; Historical disinformation as a tool to legitimate aggressive politics – 9 November
A recent EU Disinfo Lab webinar examined how history and archaeology have been manipulated in the past to legitimise power and justify persecution and how old methods of distortion are now being adapted to today’s information environment.
Watch the recorded session here.
MLI Conference 2025 – 26 November
Another very successful MLI Conference took place at the Clayton Hotel, Ballsbridge. We are very grateful to all 25 speakers and panellists, as well as our very engaged audience for a wonderful day of networking, learning and knowledge-sharing exploring the themes of supporting communities, fostering citizenship, and promoting democracy. You can read all about it on the MLI website.
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Resource of the Month
Looking for Media Literacy resources?
The resources section of the MLI website provides easy access to a variety of resources on a wide range of media literacy topics. You can now filter by topic, target audience and resource type. If you would like to submit a resource for inclusion in this library, please complete this form.
This month the focus is on …
Cyber Defenders game and resources from Europol
Roblox is a popular platform among children, with over 8 million daily users in Europe estimated to be aged 12 or younger. Despite the platform’s popularity, media reports indicate that there is a significant lack of awareness among both young users and their parents about the potential risks on the platform. To address this issue, Europol has developed a game called Cyber Defenders. By leveraging a familiar platform and engaging children through a game, Europol hopes to empower young users to navigate the online world safely and make them comfortable asking for help.
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Thanks for reading!
Thank you all for joining us on another exciting and successful media literacy year and we look forward to bringing you all the media literacy news in 2026. Have a safe and wonderful break everyone.
If you have a colleague or friend who might enjoy these updates, they can register to become an MLI member or just subscribe to receive the newsletter. For any membership issues, or if you have something you’d like to include in next month’s edition of the newsletter, please email us at info@medialiteracyireland.ie
Kind regards,
The MLI Team
