The content in this newsletter is a collection of media literacy related news and information from a wide range of sources and inclusion does not imply the endorsement of Media Literacy Ireland.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2026 is off to a strong start with lots of media literacy related news, events and information to share. MLI is delighted to announce the launch of a new signposting service to media literacy trainers on the MLI website. The start of a new year always means that Safer Internet Day is fast approaching. The theme this year is about being AI aware. See below for ways to get involved. There are also lots of upcoming events for your diary and calls for papers and proposals for a range of conferences that will take place during the year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n As demand for media literacy related training grows, MLI is pleased to announce a new signposting service for MLI Certified Trainers<\/a>. If you are looking for a trainer or speaker for your group or organisation, you can view the training profiles on the MLI website and select the trainer that best meets your needs using the Trainer request form<\/a>. With diverse backgrounds in different aspects of media, the trainers listed are independent professionals who are well-placed to provide training on a range of media literacy topics. Safer Internet Day 2026 takes place on Tuesday, 10 February<\/strong>, <\/strong>and this year the global celebrations will be based around the theme\u00a0AI Aware: Safe, Smart and in Control<\/em>. Safer Internet Day 2026 will explore the benefits and the risks of AI technologies and ways to empower children and young people to use AI safely and responsibly. You can get involved by sharing resources, hosting an event or spreading the word. Experts have raised serious concerns over the availability of tools or apps that use artificial intelligence (AI) to digitally remove clothing from photos, creating fake nude images. Webwise has produced some key information for concerned schools and parents\/guardians and potential victims. Learning Waves\u2019 award-winning TY Media Week is back for 2026, offering Transition Year students across Ireland the chance to step inside a real radio station and get hands-on experience creating content for broadcast. TY Media Week is a former winner of Best Youth-Led Media Literacy Intervention at the 2023 Media Literacy Ireland Awards and is funded by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n. The results of the election of the first UNESCO MIL Alliance Global Board have now been finalised. The UNESCO MIL Alliance promotes international cooperation to ensure that all citizens have access to media and information literacy (MIL) competencies. The Global Board will serve as the main decision-making and coordination body of the Alliance and will lead joint initiatives that advance MIL policy, research and practice worldwide. A delivery plan that sets out the work of Ofcom\u2019s Making Sense of Media (MSOM) programme over the coming 15 months has been published. The plan details how MSOM will continue to support specific communities and cohorts to develop media literacy knowledge, skills and behaviours, and work with online and broadcast platforms to encourage them to promote media literacy through their design and decisions. Solar Ireland, the industry representative body in Ireland for the solar energy industry, has identified a growth in the spread of mis- and disinformation around solar energy, and has put together a set of tips to help people spot potentially misleading information about solar energy. Ofcom has reported that TikTok has signed up to adopt its Best Practice Principles for Media Literacy by Design. Among other things, Ofcom\u2019s principles are designed to help platforms to become accountable for making media literacy a priority and increase transparency surrounding the development and impact of media literacy interventions. As part of its pledge to adopt these principles, TikTok provided examples of how it is implementing media literacy by design on its service. 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\u20132 July. The central theme for the 2026 conference is Peripheries and Connections: Media, Communication, and Transformation<\/em>, addressing the complexities of contemporary media systems in a polarised and interconnected world. The deadline to submit proposals is 3 February 2026<\/strong>. The Civic Innovation Fund (CIF) has launched a new call for projects that connect civic education and democratic participation with financial and economic literacy. The call is particularly aimed at young NGOs and youth-led organisations and each selected project will receive between \u20ac10,000 and \u20ac12,000 to support piloting, incubation, and scaling activities. The application deadline is 16 February 2026<\/strong>. EU Disinfo Lab\u2019s next annual conference will take place on 6\u20138 October 2026 in Vilnius, Lithuania, and the call for proposals is now open. Anyone with a publication or an idea for a talk addressing disinformation is invited to make a submission, and proposals are also sought for a half-day workshop on 6 October. The deadline for submissions is 27 February 2026<\/strong>. Submissions are now invited for entries for the MEDEA Awards 2026. The submission deadline is 28 February 2026 <\/strong>and all shortlisted finalists will be notified in April. Finalists will be invited to take part in the Awards Ceremony, which will be held during the 15th Media and Learning Conference<\/a>, 18\u201319 June, in Leuven, Belgium, where the winners will be announced. The <\/a>Media Literacy Call 2026<\/a> 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<\/strong>. Last month, the European Audiovisual Observatory, part of the Council of Europe, released a major new report that explores the sweeping digital developments transforming Europe\u2019s news media sector. Drawing on contributions from twelve experts, the study<\/a> examines how technological changes, market dynamics, and evolving regulatory frameworks are redefining journalism and media pluralism across Europe. At the end of last year, Ofcom released the findings of the first two waves of research (from March to August 2025) from its Children\u2019s Online Insights Panel, which is comprised of children and young people aged 8 to 17 years. The report focuses on the online features, functionalities and content the children have been engaging with, as well as some of the actions they have taken in response. A full report will follow next year. Common comparable data on media literacy in the Nordic countries is now available for the first time thanks to the Nordic Media Literacy Survey \u2013 a new study by the Nordic Council of Ministers carried out by the media authorities in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Just over 12,000 people took part in the survey, and the results show that although media knowledge is good, there are huge differences in knowledge between different age groups.<\/strong> UNESCO\u2019s World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development Report 2022-2025<\/a> reveals a 10% decline in freedom of expression worldwide since 2012 \u2013 a level not seen in decades. The report also finds that, in the same period, self-censorship increased significantly among journalists, rising 63%, at a rate of about 5% per year. Educational Review<\/em> has published the results of a study investigating the differences between online bystanders and non-bystanders in intervening in online bullying when it is witnessed online. An online survey of 225 post-primary students in Ireland examined their behaviour when witnessing cyberbullying incidences and the impact of anti-cyberbullying self-efficacy beliefs. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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 \u2018Workshop-in-a-Box\u2019, works on media literacy research and standards, and co-hosts the annual Disinformation Forum with MLI. EDMO Ireland researcher Dr Shane Murphy spoke to Shamim Malekmian at The Dublin Inquirer<\/em> for her article<\/a> on trust in Irish charities declining on the back of right-wing attacks on NGOs. EDMO Ireland has collaborated with The Wheel and Public Participation Networks to investigate the impact of disinformation on the day-to-day practices of charities and community organisations. The report will be published in the coming months and give further insight into media literacy needs (and limits) across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In December, EDMO Ireland was delighted to support Dunboyne College’s training day on a cross-sector approach to media and digital literacy. For the QQI Level 5 Communications module, teachers and students are now asked to explore misinformation, digital ‘responsibility’, and fact-checking<\/a>. However, as many educators may have little experience in digital media literacy, Dunboyne College is establishing a community of practice to support training and exchange of ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the age of AI, it\u2019s not easy to know what to trust. As part of National News Literacy Week, which runs 2\u20136 February in the US, an edWebinar on 3 February 2026<\/strong> will explore teaching strategies and resources to help students distinguish between different kinds of content on social media. IFI, in association with Screen Ireland, is hosting a National Forum on the Future of Screen Industries for the Next Generation (15\u201319 years). This event, taking place on 10 February<\/strong> in Dublin or online on 18<\/strong> February<\/strong>, will bring together individuals and organisations who develop, support and inspire young filmmakers, creatives and audiences. If you are interested in attending, please email ctobin@irishfilm.ie<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Audiovisual Observatory will hold its public conference in Brussels on Thursday, 5 February 2026<\/strong> where attendees will explore the evolving legal and market challenges for Europe\u2019s audiovisual services. Participation is free but attendees must register here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Organised by the Children\u2019s Media Foundation in partnership with BAFTA, the Children\u2019s Media Summit will take place in London on 16 February and will welcome delegates from children\u2019s 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. As AI-generated images, edited videos, and misleading visuals circulate more easily than ever, individuals and educators face growing challenges in verifying what they see online. This webinar will look at the VISAVIS Project<\/a>, a European initiative designed to strengthen people\u2019s ability to detect manipulated or out-of-context visual content. In a world where information is in abundance, but accurate news is not always easy to find, Voices seeks to bring citizens, journalists and media professionals together to celebrate the pivotal roles journalism and the informed public play in societies while fostering critical thinking around disinformation. The European Festival of Journalism and Media Freedom will take place in Florence 10\u201312 March 2026<\/strong>. Register for your free ticket now. The International Institute of Communications will hold its annual Europe Digital Communications and Media Forum in Brussels on 17\u201318 March 2026<\/strong>. Key discussion themes will include EU economic growth, regulatory simplification and the EU Digital Omnibus package; the EU Consumer Agenda 2030 and the Digital Fairness Act; protection of minors and age verification; and the EU Digital Identity Framework. The Library Association of Ireland Academic & Special Libraries Annual Conference will take place on Tuesday, 24 March 2026<\/strong> in the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. This year\u2019s theme, Reimagining Librarianship: Purpose, Practice and Possibility<\/em>, explores the why, the how and the what next of the library profession. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Last month, a webinar introduced the first results from SIMODS \u2013 Structural Indicators to Monitor Online Disinformation Scientifically, the first project to measure mis- and disinformation prevalence scientifically across platforms and languages. Among other findings, this research noted that repeat misinformers receive far higher engagement per follower than credible sources on nearly every platform examined. MLI Co-chair Dr Eileen Culloty and MLI National Coordinator Martina Chapman participated in a Joint Oireachtas Committee meeting discussing the regulation of online platforms and supports to improve online safety and participation. Other witnesses included, An Garda Sioch\u00e1na, the Hope and Courage Collective and the Institute of Strategic Dialogue. A record of the discussion is available. The Institute of International and European Affairs, in conjunction with the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Dublin, hosted a panel discussion this month on the theme of Strengthening Resilience to Disinformation<\/em>. Speakers on the panel included Lubna Jaffrey, Minister of Culture and Equality of Norway; Mari Velsand, Director General of the Norwegian Media Authority; and Martina Chapman, National Coordinator at Media Literacy Ireland. A recording of the discussion is available. A webinar recently explored \u2018pop fascism\u2019, a disinformation strategy that makes extremist narratives feel harmless, funny and increasingly acceptable. Using this strategy, fascist symbols and dictators are smuggled into pop culture through memes, music and AI-generated videos. These formats are designed to evade moderation, trigger emotional engagement and resonate with young audiences. A training seminar took place recently at Europe House in Dublin where RT\u00c9 broadcasters Miriam O\u2019Callaghan and Florence Okojie shared their professional experiences and tips with aspiring student journalists. The training targeted student journalists hoping to compete and win the European Commission Award for Journalism Relating to European Issues at the 2026 Student Media Awards later this year. The Media Education Lab has provided a series of lesson plans to explore the complex role of propaganda in contemporary society. Part of the Mind Over Media online platform, www.mindovermedia.eu<\/a>, these activities are designed to help learners recognise propaganda techniques, apply critical thinking and creativity, and deepen their sense of social responsibility. The resources<\/a> 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<\/a> form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a colleague or friend who might enjoy these updates, they can register to become an MLI member<\/a> or just subscribe<\/a> to receive the newsletter. For any membership issues, or if you have something you’d like to include in next month\u2019s edition of the newsletter, please email us at info@medialiteracyireland.ie<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Kind regards, <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Read the November MLI newsletter for media literacy related news and updates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1309,"featured_media":5551,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[349,23],"tags":[294,162,267],"class_list":["post-6571","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mli-news-2","category-news","tag-media-literacy-events","tag-media-literacy-ireland","tag-newsletter"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThis Month in Media Literacy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Announcements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.medialiteracyireland.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Annoucements-cropped.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Media literacy trainers page launched<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nSafer Internet Day 2026<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nNudification Apps \u2013 Information and guidance for parents and schools<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nLearning Waves\u2019 TY Media Week 2026<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nUNESCO MIL Alliance\u2019s newly elected Global Board <\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nOfcom\u2019s Media Literacy Delivery Plan December 2025\u2013March 2027<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nTips for identifying solar misinformation<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nTikTok\u2019s Media Literacy by Design Self-Assessment <\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nCalls to the Media Literacy Community<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Call for proposals: IAMCR Conference 2026<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nFunding call: Civic Innovation Fund<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nCall for proposals: #DISINFO2026<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nCall for entries: MEDEA Awards 2026 <\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nFunding call: Creative Europe funding available<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a>
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nResearch and Reports<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNew report: News media, pluralism and journalism in the digital age<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nOfcom report: Children\u2019s Online Insights Panel<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nNordic Media Literacy Survey<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nUNESCO World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development Report <\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nStudy: Bystander behaviour online among post-primary school students in Ireland <\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nEDMO Updates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat is EDMO?<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nUpdates<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Events<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
News Literacy Project webinar: Influencers, AI, and Credibility: Teach Students about the Information Ecosystem \u2013 3 February<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Register here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNational Forum on the Future of Screen Industries for the Next Generation \u2013 10 February<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
The European Audiovisual Observatory’s Brussels Conference \u2013 5 February<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
The Children\u2019s Media Summit \u201926 \u2013 16 February<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nMedia & Learning webinar: Verifying what we see: introducing VISAVIS on visual misinformation \u2013 18 February<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nVoices \u2013 European Festival of Journalism and Media Freedom \u2013 10\u201312 March<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nAnnual Europe Digital Communications and Media Forum 2026 \u2013 17\u201318 March<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nA&SL Conference 2026: Reimagining Librarianship: Purpose, Practice, and Possibility \u2013 24 March<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn Case You Missed It <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEU Disinfo Lab webinar: Are platforms curbing disinformation? Scientific, cross-platform evidence from six VLOPs \u2013 11 December<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nMLI appears at Joint Oireachtas Committee meeting \u2013 14 January<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nIIEA event: Strengthening Resilience to Disinformation \u2013 15 January<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nEU Disinfo Lab webinar: Pop Fascism: memes, music, and the digital revival of historical extremism \u2013 15 January<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nEuropean Commission invests in training young journalists \u2013 20 January<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nResource of the Month <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.medialiteracyireland.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Resource-of-the-month-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nLesson plans: Analysing Contemporary Propaganda<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nLooking for media literacy resources?<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Thanks for reading!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The MLI Team<\/p>\n\n\n\n