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 Summer is over and we are back with a bang! Thank you to everyone who entered the MLI Awards. The calibre of entries this year was incredible, and the shortlist will be announced very soon. In the meantime, we have lots to catch up on. The big news is that Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n\u2019s Media Literacy Countering Disinformation Micro Fund and Innovation Fund are now open for applications, but you need to be quick as the deadline for applications is 9 October. There\u2019s news about an exciting new Community Trainer programme from MLI, new research and a campaign from FraudSMART, and a brilliant opportunity from Tactical Tech \u2013 not to mention lots of events coming up.<\/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 Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n has announced \u20ac100,000 in support for media literacy initiatives aimed at countering disinformation. The funding is divided into two separate strands for activities in line with the National Counter Disinformation Strategy<\/a>. The Micro Fund will seek to provide micro grants for community-based media literacy activities up to a maximum of \u20ac3,000 per application, while the Innovation Fund will offer grants to collaborative innovation projects up to a maximum of \u20ac25,000 per application. The deadline for submissions is 9 October<\/strong>. Are you interested in delivering media and information literacy training to communities across Ireland? MLI, in collaboration with EDMO Ireland, is launching an exciting new training programme designed to equip participants to respond to the media literacy learning needs within communities. The programme is based on the media literacy experience and insights gathered from previous training programmes and international best practice. Interested parties are invited to complete this \u2018expression of interest\u2019 form<\/a> before the 6 November<\/strong>. Up to 85 percent of Irish adults received suspicious calls, texts, emails or online content at least once a month in 2026, according to new research from FraudSMART. The research also showed that there is a gap between sensing danger and acting correctly on one\u2019s instinct. The findings prompted FraudSMART to develop the \u2018See the Scam Behind the Screen<\/a>\u2019 campaign, which targets social engineering \u2013 the manipulation of human emotion and trust that sits behind most of today\u2019s scams. Tactical Tech, based in Berlin, Germany, is looking for organisations and educators to host its 30\u201390-minute Toxic Triangle interactive experience, which offers a unique view into the world of social media and the youth. Designed for decision makers, foundations, journalists, and NGOs advocating for change, the experience reveals young people\u2019s experiences of using AI and social media. It also offers a behind-the-scenes look at why the toxic triangle happens, explores how the technologies work, and how the system is monetised. Children are growing up in a world shaped by platforms, devices, data and algorithms. Technology supports engagement, collaboration and access to information but also raises real questions about privacy, trust, security and the skills children need to confidently navigate digital spaces. Cybersecurity education cannot wait until secondary school \u2013 that’s the thinking behind the SECURE initiative. Led by the UCD Centre for Cyber Resilience Education, SECURE<\/a> focuses on supporting primary teachers to build the knowledge, skills and confidence to introduce cybersecurity in meaningful, classroom-friendly ways. Do you think your media literacy initiative could be a best practice case-study? If so, EDMO wants to hear about it as part of the ongoing development of the Guidelines for Effective Media Literacy Initiatives<\/a>.<\/em> Submissions are welcome from any kind of media literacy initiative (including educational initiatives, tools, campaigns, training programmes, or research-informed practices) that clearly demonstrates how the EDMO Guidelines can be applied in practice. The call will close on Friday 30 October<\/strong>. UNESCO has issued a request for proposals to develop and pilot a practical manual for educators that builds on its recently developed module on MIL and AI, which has the working title: Teaching Media and Information Literacy in AI-Mediated Information Environments<\/em>. The deadline for proposals is 6 November<\/strong>. The United Nations Department of Global Communications is seeking contributions to the 2026 Survey on Information Integrity. This is an opportunity to showcase the important work being carried out globally to strengthen information integrity. Contributions will help build a more complete global picture of information integrity challenges and efforts, including in support of the Sustainable Development Goals. The survey will remain open until 1 October <\/strong>and can be accessed here<\/a><\/strong>. Artificial intelligence is widely used in classrooms globally. Used well and governed deliberately, AI can benefit everyone involved in education, but a new United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) discussion paper<\/a> is warning that public governance is struggling to keep pace and needs to be introduced to oversee the technology as a matter of urgency. Ofcom’s News Report 2026<\/a><\/em> reveals dramatic shifts in how news is being distributed and consumed across the UK\u2019s fragmented media landscape. The annual report details how more than eight in 10 adults (82 percent) accessed news via online sources in the past month \u2013 more than any other platform \u2013 although television remains a major route to news (79 percent), particularly among older audiences. The RePlaybook from Tactical Tech gathers insights from 30 organisations and practitioners on how the distortion of knowledge is accelerating polarisation, radicalisation, and confusion \u2013 endangering our ability to respond to climate change. From attention-sucking algorithms to AI-generated slop, it explores how our information environment is shaping and influencing opinion on climate change and offers strategies to decode disorder, challenge tech paradigms, and counteract division. Children and young people play a unique role in the digital ecosystem. Published in late August by the London School of Economics and Political Science, a new report called Artificial intelligence and children\u2019s rights: a narrative review of the evidence<\/em> evaluates contemporary evidence on children and AI, including emerging best practice. The research is organised in accordance with the 11 themes of the Joint Statement on Artificial Intelligence and the rights of the child (2025), with the aim of collating and evaluating the evidence underpinning its recommendations. The European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) Ireland flagged 177 suspect social media posts to platforms for review during Ireland\u2019s 2025 presidential election as part of its research into the issue. However, platforms only acted on 13 of the 85 items flagged as electoral disinformation, states the report, Are Tech Companies Meeting their Obligations to Protect Elections<\/em>. Only Instagram and TikTok acted on these items. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a>Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n Updates<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n opened applications this month for its Media Literacy Countering Disinformation Micro and Innovation Funds<\/a> for media literacy initiatives in line with the National Counter Disinformation Strategy. Applicants are encouraged to read the guidelines<\/a> and make their submissions before 12 noon on 9 October. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n also recently published its Online Safety and Children\u2019s Digital Lives<\/a> Report, as part of the wider EU Kids Online study, and presented key findings<\/a> about children’s attitudes to online safety and their media literacy knowledge and skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For students returning to school this September, a new Student FAQs section on the cnam.ie<\/a> website offers information for students of Politics and Society, CSPE, SPHE and Digital Media Literacy. In addition, on 8 October, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n will host a webinar together with the Politics and Society Teachers Association of Ireland that will introduce some of its educational resources and provide an opportunity to ask questions related to the current Leaving Certificate PolSoc Citizenship Project titles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you would like to receive information about future educational resources, events and updates from the Media Literacy and User Education team at Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, you can sign up using this form<\/a>.<\/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 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Registration will close on 1 October for the final hybrid event of the RESONANT project entitled Enhancing resilience against Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) targeting diaspora communities<\/em>. The project\u2019s key achievements will be showcased and three years of research on FIMI and information suppression targeting diaspora communities will be highlighted. The counter-disinformation community will meet for #Disinfo2026 in Vilnius, Lithuania. The main conference days on 7\u20138 October<\/strong> will feature a full programme of sessions in a variety of formats, and pre-conference workshops will be organised on 6 October. The programme<\/a> for this event is now available. Registration<\/a> is now open for the Copyright and Human Creativity in the Age of AI<\/em> conference which will take place at the Irish Film Institute as part of Ireland\u2019s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Jointly hosted by NewsBrands Ireland and the Irish Recorded Music Association, the conference will bring together a diverse range of panellists, including policymakers, legal experts, rights holders, creators and representatives from across the media and creative industries, to explore the challenges and opportunities presented by AI and its impact on copyright and human creativity. As part of its Wednesday webinar series, Media and Learning Association invites participants to delve into the world of media literacy in closed environments, such as prisons, detention, and restricted information spaces. Across Europe, prisons and other secure settings are increasingly adopting digital education systems and technologies as part of broader efforts to support rehabilitation, reintegration, and digital inclusion. The session will explore what media literacy means in closed and controlled information environments and what happens when access to information is restricted, curated, mediated, or closely monitored. Registration is open for Media and Learning Association\u2019s annual conference MLA4MedLit 2026: Whose Literacy? Whose Rights? Interrogating Digital and Media Literacy for Everyone.<\/em> As media literacy becomes an ever more central pillar of digital citizenship and societal resilience, the conference will invite participants to question some of the field\u2019s own assumptions about who is being reached, who is being left out, and who gets to decide what \u2018literacy for everyone\u2019 really means. Themed We All Play a Part \u2013 Media Information Literacy for the People<\/em>, this year\u2019s hybrid gathering brings together regional and thematic events organised by UNESCO offices and partners across the world. By showcasing practical initiatives, fostering cross-sector partnerships, and promoting knowledge exchange across regions, Global MIL Week 2026 aims to strengthen international cooperation and highlight how collective action can advance media and information literacy for everyone. Flagship events will take place across the world. MIL stakeholders can register their own events.<\/a> Created by Disabled Women Ireland and the Disability Participation News Hub, and funded by Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, the Access Media<\/em> series is holding its fifth and final session on the impact of mis- and disinformation on disabled people in November. Sign up here<\/a> to learn how inaccurate and damaging narratives take hold, spread, and become embedded in public understanding, and what journalists and disabled people can do to challenge them. The Age-Friendly AI Assembly, which takes place in Galway on 17 November<\/strong>, is a key element of Age-Friendly AI, Ireland\u2019s national AI literacy and dialogue initiative for older adults. Register for the event here<\/a>. Assembly participants will be asked to reflect on the process around the initiative to date and the key insights gleaned from it and help shape key recommendations for a forthcoming expert report on Age-Friendly AI. Part of the Media and Learning Association Wednesday Webinars on Digital & Media Literacy in Europe series, this webinar will try to answer the question: Who teaches media literacy when institutions don\u2019t reach people? Hosted by the Digital Futures for Children Centre and 5Rights Foundation, this in-person and online event will explore how social media bans may affect marginalised and minority youth and how a child rights-respecting approach is key to this new government policy. Register now<\/a> for a place. The MILES project develops innovative approaches for teachers, students, and parents, supporting them in building media and information literacy, introducing the concept of pre-bunking, and strengthening data and digital literacy skills. This six-hour, hybrid conference will dive into the world of disinformation and explore ways to boost critical thinking in education and connect like-minded educators and policy makers. It is free to attend in person in Brussels or online but registration<\/a> is required. <\/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 Dublin City University\u2019s digital technology research centre, FuJo, published a new report in July that investigates mis- and disinformation and how it is experienced across the world\u2019s 7,000+ living languages. It found that only around 100 of these languages have meaningful representation in the datasets used to train AI systems. Furthermore, a large majority of online content is produced in a handful of dominant languages, particularly English. This means that the languages least served by platform content moderation, fact-checking infrastructure and language technology are also the languages in which false and manipulative content can circulate longest without detection or correction. Published in August by the Hope and Courage Collective, The Islamophobia Playbook: A Project of Hate<\/em> examines anti-Muslim incidents over two years and in 2026. The investigation presents an in-depth case study of the role of social media in the alleged arson attack on the Al Madinah Prayer Hall (Talbot Street Mosque) in Dublin. Age-Friendly AI, Ireland\u2019s national AI literacy initiative for older adults, welcomed a large number of people to their online training session which took place in June. Participants were drawn from across 14 counties and included representatives from libraries, county councils, community organisations and educational institutions. The training took 60 minutes and covered the following sections: Getting to Know AI, Spotting the Difference between Human and Artificial Intelligence, and Seeing Different Sides of AI. Designed to support families navigating today\u2019s rapidly evolving digital information ecosystem, Growing Up in a Connected World: A Family Guide for the Digital Age<\/a><\/em> is a flagship global resource from UNESCO\u2013CLEMI. The guide<\/a>, which was shaped by lived family experiences and informed by over 35 experts from around the globe, offers evidence-based recommendations, educational expertise and concrete actionable guidance for parents, educators and policymakers. 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":[25,349,23],"tags":[294,162,267],"class_list":["post-7333","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mli-news","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
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n\u2019s Media Literacy Micro Fund and Innovation Fund open for applications<\/strong><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMLI seeking Community Trainers for new media literacy training programme<\/strong><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nFraudSMART encourages people to \u2018See the Scam Behind the Screen\u2019<\/strong><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nHosts needed for the Toxic Triangle interactive experience<\/strong><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy Cybersecurity Literacy in Primary School Can\u2019t Wait: The SECURE Solution<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\nCalls to the Media Literacy Community<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Call for submissions: Guidelines for Effective Media Literacy Initiatives<\/strong><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nUNESCO request for proposals: Practical manual for educators on MIL and AI<\/strong><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nCall for contributions: UN 2026 Survey on Information Integrity<\/strong><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nResearch and Reports<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nUNESCO research: Sustaining Education as a Common Good in the Age of AI: The Case for Deliberative Governance<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nOfcom report: One in five UK adults are now using AI tools to access news<\/strong><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe RepPlaybook: A Field Guide to the Climate and Information Crisis<\/strong><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nResearch: Artificial intelligence and children\u2019s rights: a narrative review of the evidence<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nEvidence from Ireland\u2019s Presidential Election: Are tech companies meeting their election protection obligations?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nKey Partner Updates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nEvents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nRESONANT Final Event \u2013 5 October <\/strong><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nDisinfo2026 \u2013 7 to 8 October<\/strong> <\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nCopyright and Human Creativity in the Age of AI Conference \u2013 14 October<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWednesday Webinar:<\/strong> Media literacy in closed environments \u2013 21 October<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMLA4MedLit online conference \u2013 23 October<\/strong> <\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nUNESCO Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2026 \u2013 24 to 31 October<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\nAccess Media<\/em> Session 5: Misinformation and Disinformation in the Media: The Impact on Disabled People \u2013 10 November<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAge-Friendly AI Assembly \u2013 17 November<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nGrassroots Media Literacy: Community-led approaches to building trust and digital resilience \u2013 18 November<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhose childhood, whose safety? Marginalised youth and social media bans \u2013 19 November<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMILES EU EDU-Conference: Against Disinformation \u2013 Towards Critical Thinking \u2013 27 November<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn Case You Missed It <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFuJo report investigates the impact of language inequalities on disinformation<\/strong><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nReport examines amplification of Islamophobia via social media<\/strong><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\nLarge numbers join Age-Friendly AI online training session<\/strong><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nResource of the Month <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGrowing Up in a Connected World: A Family Guide for the Digital Age<\/strong><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
More<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nLooking for media literacy resources?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Thanks for reading!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The MLI Team<\/p>\n\n\n\n