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 the Training and Development section of the MLI website.
This Month in Media Literacy
We hope the summer has been treating you well so far and that you enjoy all we have in store for you this month. The deadline has now passed for entering the 2025 MLI Awards and we’re in the exciting process of shortlisting. Once again, we’re so impressed by the standard of entries this year and we’re looking forward to sharing the shortlist with you in the September newsletter. We’ll be taking a break in August but we will be back in September so if you have anything you’d like to contribute to the September newsletter, please get in touch!
Announcements
House of Lord report on media literacy
The House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee has published a report that calls for urgent action on media literacy. The report highlights the importance of media literacy and emphasises the need for the UK government to take urgent action to improve media literacy skills across the UK population. MLI’s National Coordinator, Martina Chapman, was one of the international experts invited to give oral evidence at one of the hearings.
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New parent resources from Coimisiún na Meán
Coimisiún na Meán has launched a new page for parents and guardians on its website. This contains a video for parents, which is running in cinemas across the country until mid-August so keep an eye out! It also has a PowerPoint for parents – which explains the new rules online and how they help children – top tips, and a selection of real-world scenarios to help understand what you can/can’t report to Coimisiún na Meán.
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Introduction to Journalism, Podcasting and Radio course
Are you interested in journalism, podcasting, sports broadcasting or radio? Radio Kerry and The Digital Skills Centre at Kerry College are currently recruiting for an eight-week Introduction to Journalism, Podcasting and Radio course which commences in Tralee in September.
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Barnardos survey on parent and carer involvement in the online world of children
The Barnardos Online Safety Programme are conducting a survey to better understand parent and carer involvement in children’s online activities, and would appreciate your participation. The deadline for completing the survey is mid-August.
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CRAOL Achievement Awards 2025
Entry to the CRAOL 2025 Achievement Awards is now open to all CRAOL Member Community Radio Stations in the Republic of Ireland who have a full broadcasting licence or a temporary 100/30-day licence. Categories include social benefit, access and inclusion and sustainability. The deadline for entry is 8 August.
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European Commission guidelines on the protection of minors
On 14 July, the European Commission published guidelines on the protection of minors under the Digital Services Act to ensure a safe online experience for children and young people. The guidelines set out a non-exhaustive list of measures to protect children from online risks such as grooming, harmful content, problematic and addictive behaviours, as well as cyberbullying and harmful commercial practices.
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EduSkills+Media2: Building Media Skills Together
This resource for educators of young children promotes media literacy and responsible media use among children, educators and parents. This project aims to create a learning partnership between teachers, caregivers and children to navigate the media landscape safely and effectively.
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Call for media literacy experts
The European Commission is looking for media literacy experts to carry out tasks such as assessing applications for EU funding and giving advice on specific issues. This is a paid short-term role between March and May 2026. The Commission is especially encouraging experts from under-represented countries (mostly from Central and Eastern Europe) to apply.
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Call for submissions: Family Guide for the Digital Age
As part of their ongoing partnership, UNESCO and CLEMI are issuing a call for contributions for the creation of a Global Family Guide for the Digital Age. This unique international project aims to support parents, families and educators in navigating the challenges children face in today’s digital environment. The deadline for contributions is 22 August.
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Call for proposals: International Media Literacy Research Symposium
The sixth annual IMLRS will be held in-person at John Cabot University in Rome from 4–6 June 2026. The organisers are currently seeking proposals/abstracts on topics including media literacy and information literacy, media literacy for social change, and AI. The deadline for submissions is 1 November.
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Call for consultation: Impacts of Generative Artificial Intelligence for Freedom of Expression
The Council of Europe has launched a public consultation on their draft Guidance Note on the Implications of Generative Artificial Intelligence for Freedom of Expression. This Guidance Note will explore how the rapidly evolving Generative AI technology is impacting the various dimensions of the right to freedom of expression. The deadline for completion is 12 August.
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Call for consultation: EU Action Plan Against Cyberbullying
The European Commission has launched a public consultation and a call for evidence to support the development of the EU Action Plan Against Cyberbullying, expected for early 2026. Consultation and call for evidence are open until 29 September.
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General-Purpose AI Code of Practice now available
The European Commission has received the final version of the General-Purpose AI Code of Practice, a voluntary tool developed by 13 independent experts, with input from over 1,000 stakeholders, including model providers, small and medium-sized enterprises, academics, AI safety experts, rightsholders and civil society organisations.
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Research and reports
Safe Online Annual Report 2024: Keeping Children Safe in the Digital World
As the digital world evolves, so do the threats facing children and young people online. The Safe Online Annual Report 2024 reveals both the alarming scale of these dangers and the urgent need for coordinated, innovative action.
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Reaching and Engaging with Very Young Children
While the online world and digital tools offer opportunities for learning, creativity and communication, they also present new challenges and risks, particularly for children under the age of eight who are still developing their cognitive, social and emotional skills. This guide from Better Internet for Kids provides practical strategies, approaches and tools to help early childhood professionals and families engage with very young children in developing essential digital literacy and online safety competences.
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Social Media Influencers under the DSA
Under the DSA, social media platforms must provide clear tools for influencers to disclose paid content. But how well do they meet this obligation – and how rigorously is compliance assessed? This analysis by Taylor Annabell from Utrecht University compares eight DSA audit reports on influencer marketing disclosures and finds striking inconsistencies in how audits were conducted, what was measured, and how ‘compliance’ was defined.
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Beyond Fact-Checking: What Europe gets wrong about disinformation, and how to fix it
Misinformation and disinformation have become one of the defining challenges of our time: they impact elections, influence public health, and are reshaping international relations. Researcher Sophie L. Vériter’s article outlines that the problem is not only one of harmful content and foreign interference, it is one of trust, literacy and civic engagement.
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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 hosts the annual Disinformation Forum with MLI.
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This month at EDMO
On 4 July, EDMO Ireland contributed to a Council of Europe Workshop on Countering Disinformation, which will provide guidance to member states.
EDMO also welcomed a new team member, Aidan O’Brien. Aidan will focus on policy, analysis and media literacy, including a new training resource to support conversations about false claims and rumours – helping people talk with family and community members in a constructive and informed way.
Events
World Library and Information Conference 2025 – 18–22 August
Hosted by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, the 89th World Library and Information Congress will take place in in Astana, Kazakhstan. The theme will be ‘Uniting Knowledge, Building the Future’. The deadline for registration is 15 August.
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FuJo PhD Conference 2025 – 5 September
Following the success of their inaugural event, the second FuJo PhD Conference will take place at DCU’s Glasnevin campus. This year’s conference will bring together PhD researchers from across the country to explore the dynamic intersections of media, democracy, and society in our digital age, present their work, connect with peers, and contribute to interdisciplinary conversations across a broad range of themes.
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International Literacy Day – 8 September
The theme for this year’s International Literacy Day, is ‘promoting literacy in the digital age’. It will be an opportunity for critical reflection on what literacy means today, and how literacy teaching and learning programmes and policies are designed, managed and monitored in this digital era. To mark the day, the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) Programme Office in SOLAS is launching a national campaign called ‘Let’s talk about media literacy’. Find out how you can support the campaign.
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Conference: Media Literacy and Democracy Education for Societal Resilience –18–19 September
Taking place in the Helsinki Central Library (Oodi), this conference is aimed at experts and policymakers working in media literacy, education, teacher training, lifelong learning, youth sector and public libraries. Themes include the promotion of media literacy and civic skills as part of lifelong learning, and making inclusion – a cornerstone of diverse public discourse and democratic progress – a reality.
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Webinar: Persuasion by design: understanding Influence(rs) – 24 September
This webinar will explore how audiovisual and social media platforms, ranging from TikTok and YouTube to music and memes, shapes values, norms and beliefs. It will examine the persuasive techniques used by influencers and content creators, the cultural context behind how media is interpreted, and offer practical tools for educators to foster critical viewing and listening skills.
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Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2025 –24–31 October
Global Media and Information Literacy Week is an annual event that raises awareness and celebrates the progress achieved towards media and information literacy for all. The annual hybrid conference will take place in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, on 23–24 October. The theme is ‘Minds Over AI – MIL in Digital Spaces’.
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Save the date: Safer Internet Forum 2025 – 4 December
This hybrid event, taking place in Brussels and online, will focus on how age can impact the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in the digital world. It will consider how age assurance can help to protect children and young people from harmful content, while providing them with age-appropriate, positive online experiences. Registration will be open from September.
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In Case You Missed It
Justice Media Award Winners 2025
On 25 June, 140 journalists gathered at the Law Society of Ireland for the highly anticipated announcement of winners of the Justice Media Awards 2025. These awards recognise outstanding print, broadcast and online journalism that contributes to the public’s understanding of justice, the legal system and access to justice issues.
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NewsGuard retiring the word ‘misinformation’ and ‘disinformation’
This article from NewsGuard explains why it is no longer using these terms. ‘The words once served a purpose. They gave name to a crisis that many had not yet recognised: an onslaught of falsehoods flooding the digital ecosystem, often with malign intent … These words have now been politicised beyond recognition and turned into partisan weapons by actors on the right and the left, and among anti-democratic foreign actors.’
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Resource of the Month
This month we have two resources for you, depending on your mood!
Holiday mode?
If you’re on the summer wind-down and don’t feel like expending too much energy, try this fun ‘AI or Real’ quiz from BBC Bitesize! Take the quiz here
Business as usual?
If you’re looking for something meatier, try the Opinionator – this online game is all about how online content is used to gather information and influence decisions. The Opinionator empowers you to understand and resist these forces through an interactive, playful and revealing journey. Play here
Thanks for reading!
Enjoy the rest of your summer and see you in September!
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
