Journal of Latin American Communication Research

Authors

Miguel A Torres — 2024-12-02

Authors of the Journal of Latin American Communication Research, Vol. 12, No. 2.

Media and Information Literacy in Latin America

Eliseo R Colón Zayas — 2024-12-02

Presentation to the special edition of the Journal of Latin American Communication Research, vol. 12 no.2, dedicated to exploring the critical topic of Media and Information Literacy (MIL) in Latin America and the Caribbean. This volume presents a diverse collection of articles examining MIL as a framework for addressing the region’s unique challenges, from deep inequalities to the complexities of the digital age. The contributors offer insights into how MIL can empower citizens, strengthen democracy, and foster critical engagement with media and technology.

Challenges for Media and Information Literacy (MIL) policies in Latin America and the Caribbean

Rosa M. González — 2024-12-02

This article examines the challenges of Media and Information Literacy (MIL) policies in Latin America and the Caribbean. In a context marked by misinformation, hate speech, and artificial intelligence, MIL emerges as a key tool for empowering citizens and fostering critical participation in the digital ecosystem. Through recent examples and data, the importance of an inclusive MIL that addresses both the digital divide and the need for robust national regulations is highlighted. Finally, the article emphasizes the role of MIL in building a trustworthy and resilient digital space that respects human rights

Media and Information Literacy in Latin America and the Caribbean. Challenges and opportunities of an unequal region

Silvia Bacher — 2024-12-02

This article explores the challenges and opportunities of Media and Information Literacy (MIL) in Latin America and the Caribbean, within a context marked by profound inequalities and a rapidly evolving digital ecosystem. MIL is presented as an essential tool for promoting human rights and strengthening citizen participation in a diverse region. Through various regional initiatives and studies, the article examines how collaboration among diverse actors, from academic institutions to social networks and governments, can drive effective MIL policies. The discussion highlights the importance of a critical and collaborative approach to building an informed and resilient citizenry.

Media and Information Literacy and Harm Reduction

Fernando Paulino — 2024-12-02

This article explores the integration of the Harm Reduction (HR) concept into Media and Information Literacy (MIL) practices within the educational and digital context in Brazil. It examines how HR can be applied to promote responsible technology use, particularly among children and adolescents, balancing freedom of expression with the protection of vulnerable audiences. The connection between HR and MIL offers practical tools to strengthen digital citizenship, foster critical media consumption, and promote online safety. The article concludes with recommendations for involving educators and parents in developing these skills.

Brazilian Media Education Strategy - A National Policy Born from Listening

Mariana de Almeida Filizola — 2024-12-02

This article presents the Brazilian Media Education Strategy (EBEM), a public policy formulated through consultations with civil society, designed to address the challenges of the digital environment in Brazil. The main pillars of the strategy are analyzed, including teacher training, integrating media education into schools, and collaboration with various ministries and international organizations. EBEM aims to ensure that media education is considered a basic right and promotes a critical and participatory approach to media and technology usage.

The Pillars of Media and Information Literacy in Times of Artificial Intelligence

Janneth Trejo-Quintana — 2024-12-02

This article reflects on the pillars of media and information literacy (MIL) in the context of artificial intelligence (AI). As AI-based technologies are integrated into the contemporary media ecosystem, the need to develop skills that enable critical and effective interaction with these systems becomes increasingly urgent. Key skills such as access, analysis, creation, reflection, and action are highlighted, with a proposed update for each to address the challenges and opportunities that AI presents. The final reflection emphasizes the importance of adapting and expanding MIL competencies to strengthen civic engagement and critical thinking in an algorithm-mediated world.

MIL and Democracy in Latin America. Lessons from independent journalism: An overview of Mexico and Brazil

Carolina Montiel Navarro — 2024-12-02

This article examines how disinformation and misinformation impact Latin American democracies, focusing on Mexico and Brazil. Through the analysis of independent journalism and fact-checking agencies like Agência Lupa and Verificado MX, the study highlights how these initiatives promote media and information literacy (MIL). It discusses how far-right populism and authoritarian leaders use disinformation to weaken democracy, while fact-checking journalism emerges as a key tool to counter these effects and strengthen an informed citizenry.

Media and Information Literacy (MIL) & Educommunication: Sharing tasks!

Ismar de Oliveira Soares — 2024-12-02

This article examines the relationship between Media and Information Literacy (MIL) and Educommunication, two approaches that share the goal of fostering critical media interaction skills but differ in their methodologies. While MIL focuses on critical media analysis, Educommunication has a political commitment to social transformation and the creation of democratic communication ecosystems. Through a comparative analysis, the article highlights the convergences and divergences between both practices and their implementation in Brazil, especially in light of the Brazilian Media Education Strategy.

A Continent to be Known - A comparative perspective between two Civil Society Organizations dedicated to Media and Information Literacy (MIL) in Latin America

Manuel-Antonio Monteagudo — 2024-12-02

This article compares two Latin American civil society organizations dedicated to media and information literacy (MIL): Movilizatorio in Colombia and A Mí No Me La Hacen in Peru. Both face challenges such as the digital divide and the lack of educational policies on media, but they have achieved significant progress in their respective contexts. Movilizatorio stands out for its regional presence and strategic partnerships, while A Mí No Me La Hacen offers an innovative perspective through its multidisciplinary approach. The article concludes with recommendations to strengthen MIL in Latin America, emphasizing the need for systematic research and regional collaborations.

Gender perspective and inequality in Peru

María Teresa Quiroz Velasco — 2024-12-02

This article examines the gender perspective and inequality in Peru, analyzing how historical and theoretical changes regarding the role of women have impacted education and society. Through a focus on Media and Information Literacy (MIL), the challenges faced by girls and adolescents in accessing education and the effects of the pandemic on gender equality are explored. The article highlights the social, cultural, and economic barriers that perpetuate inequality and discusses proposals to integrate gender education into MIL, promoting an inclusive and critical approach.

Media and Information Literacy and Alternative Media

Hugo Maguey — 2024-12-02

This article explores the current role of alternative media as forms of media and information literacy in the face of the rise of fake news and misinformation resulting from the democratization of media through the internet and the incursion of non-professional communication or journalism entities into the information biosphere, in addition to the use of social networks as propaganda and support for official narratives to undermine democracy.

Contemporary challenges of MIL: Towards an education for emancipation

José Manuel Corona-Rodríguez — 2024-12-02

This article explores the contemporary challenges of Media and Information Literacy (MIL) and its potential to promote emancipatory education. Through a historical analysis, it examines MIL’s evolution and its consolidation as a critical tool for civic participation in the digital environment. The article addresses the transformations brought by the digital age to communication systems, the information economy, and regulatory frameworks, emphasizing the importance of updating MIL to address the platformization of education, datafication, and generative technologies. It proposes MIL as a vehicle for active and reflective citizenship, capable of transforming the relationship between education, communication, and technology.

The Urgency of Media Literacy for Exercising Citizenship and Its Contribution to Guaranteeing Information Integrity - EducaMídia Case Study

Patricia Blanco — 2024-12-02

The digitalization of society and the democratization of technology provide vast opportunities for access to information and diverse voices, but they also bring challenges such as misinformation and manipulation. Furthermore, algorithms and artificial intelligence impact information integrity by creating biased content and limiting plurality. A lack of knowledge about digital tools excludes many from critical knowledge construction, leading to inequality. Media literacy emerges as a solution, empowering citizens to understand the informational environment, critically analyze content, and produce information ethically. This article aims to show how the EducaMídia program, created in 2019 by the Palavra Aberta Institute, has been working to strengthen media literacy in Brazil by training educators and contributing to the development of public policies in the country.

Media and Information Literacy Research in Latin America

Eva Da Porta — 2024-12-02

This article examines the evolution of Media and Information Literacy (MIL) research in Latin America, highlighting its trajectory as a critical field linked to communication and education since the 1960s. Through a historical and conceptual approach, it explores the challenges facing MIL in today's context, marked by technological inequality and fragmentation in research. The article also emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinarity and regional integration to consolidate MIL as a pillar in critical and emancipatory citizenship education in the digital age.

A Review: Situation Report on Media literacy, disinformation and misinformation in the English and Dutch Speaking Caribbean and the Action Plan for Combatting Disinformation

Kiran Maharaj — 2024-12-02

This article analyzes the "Situation Report on Media Literacy, Disinformation, and Misinformation in the Caribbean" and the proposed action plan to combat disinformation in the region. The report, supported by UNESCO and developed by the Media Institute of the Caribbean (MIC) and the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM), covers research conducted in eight Caribbean countries. The report highlights the region's challenges, the need for further research on media trust, and proposes collaborations between governments, media outlets, and civil organizations to promote media literacy. The action plan includes recommendations to improve journalism and strengthen public trust in the media.

Rewiring Trust: Digital Influencers, MIL, and the New Media Landscape

Tomás Balmaceda — 2024-12-02

This article examines the paradoxical relationship between widespread institutional distrust and emerging forms of trust in digital spaces, particularly focusing on the phenomenon of social media influencers. Drawing from recent data, I analyze how declining trust in traditional institutions correlates with increased trust in stranger-to-stranger interactions and digital influence. I introduce the "4 C model" (Content, Creativity, Community, and Coherence) as a framework for understanding digital influencer dynamics, so I can argue that Media and Information Literacy (MIL) serves as a crucial philosophical and practical framework for navigating this evolving landscape. MIL can facilitate critical engagement with digital content, authentication processes, and expertise evaluation while addressing questions of authenticity, authority, and cultural impact in networked spaces. My analysis suggests that MIL's effectiveness depends on its conception as a dynamic framework extending beyond traditional educational boundaries, fostering individual empowerment and collective understanding in an increasingly complex digital environment.