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
Happy Halloween! We have a scary amount of exciting news for you this month with three new sources of funding, as well as calls for papers and proposals. We also have news about the exciting line-up for the MLI Annual Conference, but you need to be quick because registration will close soon, so make sure to secure your place now!
Announcements
MLI Conference 2025
The agenda has been announced for the MLI Conference and we are delighted to announce that Roslyn Kratochvil Moore will deliver the keynote speech. With over 20 years’ experience, Rosyln has a wealth of on-the-ground experience to share with attendees. Registration closes on the 10 November so make sure you secure your place today. If you would like to display an A2-sized poster about your media literacy project or work at the conference, or you would like to distribute media literacy-related information to the attendees (such as leaflets, resources, etc.), please email info@medialiteracyireland.ie.
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MLI resources
The resources section of the MLI website has been updated to provide easy access to a variety of resources on a wide range of media literacy topics. You can now easily filter by topic, target audience and type of resource. If you would like to submit a resource for inclusion in this library, please complete this form.
Blue Star Programme Media Literacy videos
On 2 October, European Movement Ireland launched its new Blue Star Programme Media Literacy Video Series to help primary school pupils separate fact from fiction in a child-friendly, creative and accessible way. Aimed at pupils aged 9–12, the resources are fully aligned with the National Primary School Curriculum’s focus on research in senior classes.
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AI Can Make Mistakes campaign
To accompany Global MIL Week 2025 (24–31 October), UNESCO has launched the ‘AI Can Make Mistakes’ campaign. This digital campaign examines both the promises and pitfalls of artificial intelligence. While AI offers incredible opportunities, it’s far from flawless. Errors, biases and misinformation can easily emerge, making Media and Information Literacy more critical than ever. You can access resources for sharing on social media here
Journalism graduates secure positions in local radio stations
On 8 October, Learning Waves announced a significant step towards nurturing the future of journalism in Ireland, as ten promising journalism students were chosen to embark on paid placements at ten independent radio stations around the country, as part of the award-winning 2025 Learning Waves Journalism Graduate Programme.
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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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Funding for National Counter Disinformation Strategy
In line with the Programme for Government, €1.1 million in Exchequer funding has been allocated to the implementation of the National Counter Disinformation Strategy (NCDS) in 2026 to support research, fact-checking and media literacy initiatives.
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Media Skills and Development Programme
Coimisiún na Meán has launched a new funding programme to support training, learning and development activities that ensure a media landscape that is sustainable, pluralistic and participative, and that reflects and shapes who we are as a society. This annual programme will offer successful applicants funding to deliver a variety of initiatives and activities to support their training and development needs in line with the Media Skills and Development Programme Policy. The deadline for applications is 10 November.
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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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Call for papers: IAMCR Conference 2026
The International Association for Media and Communication Research Conference 2026 will be hosted by the University of Galway from 28 June to 2 July 2026. IAMCR is thepreeminentworldwideprofessionalorganisation in the field of media and communication research. The conference will bring 2,000 scholars to Galway from up to 80 countries. The call for papers will be available in early November.
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Teaching Online Safety in the Post-Primary SPHE Classroom
This open online course aims to support teachers by providing them with skills, confidence and resources. It will enable teachers to raise awareness of and prevent potentially harmful online behaviour by students through their implementation of the SPHE curriculum at Junior Cycle, TY and Senior Cycle levels. The content of this course is in line with the revised SPHE curriculum.
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Research and Reports
The Future Report: How Europe’s Youth Experience the Digital Age
The Future Report, commissioned by Google and delivered in partnership with youth consultancy Livity, offers insights from over 7,000 European teenagers across seven countries, including Ireland. The findings show a generation that is both creative and critical. Crucially, the report highlights a critical window of opportunity for parental guidance and emphasises the urgent need for early digital literacy interventions. The report’s findings including Irish data will be a central topic at the Barnardos Plugged in Switched Off conference in Dublin on Friday, 14 November 2025, at The Foundry (Google HQ).
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Family-friendly version of the Digital Services Act (DSA)
The European Commission has published a family-friendly version of the DSA. This booklet explains, in simple terms, the European Commission’s protection of minors guidelines under the Digital Services Act.
Read the guide here
From Media Literacy to Autonomy Literacy: Understanding the Human Cost of Digital Manipulation
MLI member and Principal Solicitor at NLG Solicitors, Niamh Lenihan, has written an opinion piece about the challenges that artificial intelligence and algorithms present for independent thought, meaningful consent, and democratic participation.
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How ‘User-Friendly’ Is DSA Reporting Really?
A new study by Das NETTZ shows that reporting procedures on large online platforms prescribed by the DSA are used too rarely. The DSA obliges very large online platforms to provide user-friendly ways to report illegal content. However, this study finds that many users do not know these ways or find them too complicated.
Read the full study 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
This month, EDMO was primarily working on the presidential election with a media literacy talk on election spin at Dún Laoghaire library and the launch of the Be Election Smart campaign with Media Literacy Ireland. EDMO researchers also appeared on RTÉ News and Near FM discussing AI deepfakes and media literacy around elections.
Events
Inclusive Digital Europe Conference – 7 November
Hosted by European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA) in Brussels, the theme of this conference is Empowering communities through inclusive digital transformation. This event will explore how digital transformation can be made inclusive, particularly in rural areas facing connectivity gaps, limited infrastructure, and uneven access to digital education.
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eTwinning National Conference 2025 – 8 November
This event, hosted by Léargas and taking place in the Talbot Hotel, Carlow, is targeted at professional educators from Early Childhood to Higher Education who are interested in excellent standards of teaching and learning and professional development in contemporary themes such as Media Literacy and AI. It is an opportunity to learn more about eTwinning and Erasmus and meet some of the community.
Register here
Barnardos Plugged In Switched Off Conference 2025 – 14 November
Recognising the growing influence of online technologies on children, this conference, taking place in the Google Foundry in Dublin, aims to empower parents and caregivers to get more involved in their children’s online lives and feel better equipped to help them keep safe online.
Register here
Closing Conference of the European Year of Digital Citizenship Education 2025 – 18–19 November
Taking place in Ljubljana Mons, this conference will present the Council of Europe’s new strategic roadmap for the future of digital citizenship education. It will also showcase the best practices from across Council of Europe members, offering an opportunity to reflect on the collective achievements in the field of digital citizenship and to explore the way forward.
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Webinar: Understanding and responding to Health Disinformation – 19 November
This webinar from the Media & Learning Association will explore the real-world impact of medical misinformation and how media literacy can help citizens, especially vulnerable groups, navigate health narratives more critically.
Register here
IC4ML Fall Network Meeting – 19 November
The International Council for Media Literacy will have an online discussion on the topic Looking at AI through a McLuhan Lens.
Register here
Safer Internet Day 2026 Information event – 25 November
The theme for Safer Internet Day 2026 is AI Aware: Safe, Smart and in Control. During this event, the Irish Safer Internet Centre will bring together schools and organisations from across Ireland to explore the theme and discuss the collaborative plans for the day, and how to get involved. It takes place via zoom between 1 p.m. and 1.45 p.m.
Register here
MLI Annual Conference 2025 – 26 November
Taking place in Thomas Prior Hall in Dublin, the 2025 MLI Conference will be an opportunity for MLI members to participate in insightful discussion, interactive sessions and networking opportunities with like-minded individuals passionate about media literacy. Places are limited so pre-book now to secure your place.
Register here
EACEA Funding Webinar on Media Literacy – 3 December
The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) is holding online information sessions to explain the new Creative Europe funding opportunities and application process. Register here
Ofcom’s Making Sense of Media Conference 2025 – 3 December
Taking place in the Royal College of Physicians in London, the theme of this conference is Media Literacy: Nice to Have or a Game Changer? The event will explore how, amid significant technological change, media literacy empowers individuals and communities to navigate the information landscape with confidence, make informed choices, build agency, and flourish.
Register here
Age-Friendly AI Workshop – 3 December
Taking place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Wood Quay venue in Dublin City Council, this interactive workshop will be an opportunity to share your thoughts, opinions and experiences with AI in different areas, such as healthcare, banking processes or independent living.
Register here
Save the date: Safer Internet Forum 2025 – 4 December
Taking place in a hybrid format in Brussels and online, the theme of this event is Why age matters: Protecting and empowering youth in the digital age. It will focus on how age can impact the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in the digital world, and consider how age assurance can help protect them from harmful content, while providing them with age-appropriate, positive online experiences.
Register for online participation here
In Case You Missed It
MLA4MedLit online conference – 17 October
This one-day online conference, titled Building Societal Resilience through Digital and Media Literacy for Everyone, explored how digital and media literacy can strengthen democracy, foster civic participation, and empower people of all ages to navigate today’s increasingly complex information landscape.
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Webinar: Reframing reality — the ethics of a shared world – 23 October
This webinar explored some of the most urgent and complex issues surrounding the rise of AI-powered XR technologies, with a special focus on what they mean for education and media literacy.
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Resource of the Month
Escape Fake game and resources
Escape Fake is a free-to-play, augmented reality game, which takes the players through a digital escape room in order to fix the future by debunking fake news. It requires an app and some printouts, all of which are accessible here. The Escape Fake game also comes with an educational toolkit, as well as a course for educators.
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Thanks for reading!
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Kind regards,
The MLI Team
