UNESCO MIL Alliance
UNESCO MIL Alliance response to COVID-19
Statement from GAPMIL
Like a disease, disinformation and misinformation are problematic occurrences that can be contagious and hence, quite risky. During a pandemic, it can become a matter of life or death. For this reason, Media and Information Literacy (MIL) competencies are foundational for all members of society. It is more so because we are dependent upon each other to live and thrive in healthy information, media, and technological environments. Media and information literacy is necessary every day, but especially during turbulent times when misinformation runs rampant.
In today’s social media world, people are both producers and consumers of information. We must start with ourselves by exercising agency, autonomy as well as ethics. In so doing, we can expect others to do the same. Collectively, we uphold and preserve the type of information environments that we want for the welfare of our families, communities, as well as for active citizenship, sustainable development, and viable democracies. By managing critically how we engage with information in times of crisis, we can progress towards positive values such as solidarity, generosity, togetherness.
Echoing the global concern around misinformation, our global UNESCO-led MIL Αlliance (GAPMIL) has come together to provide resources for bringing MIL to the attention of every citizen. Together, we can help stop the spread of misinformation, control the information fog, and better focus on developing healthy media and information environments for all. We thus shout clarion call of media and information literacy for all.
The MIL Alliance (or GAPMIL) Takes Action
MIL Webinars
Join the GAPMIL community for free webinars on media and information literacy topics featuring MIL leaders across the globe. The webinars will be open to the general public, particularly youth, parents/guardians, and the aged.
Webinar Schedule
The webinars will be held on the MIL CLICKS Facebook page if no other platform is specified: https://www.facebook.com/MILCLICKS/
17 April, 17:00 Brasilia time
Webinar by two GAPMIL experts (on Instagram)
- Topic: “Tips for parents to watch pandemic-related news with children”
23 April, 16:00 Paris time
Webinar by a GAPMIL Youth Ambassador
- Topic: “Youth, Information and COVID-19”
29 April, 21:00 Paris time
Webinar by GAPMIL Co-Chairs (on Instagram)
- Topic: “Digital Libraries and Remote Learning"
30 April, 16:00 Paris time
Webinar by two GAPMIL experts
- Topic: “A MIL response to the Infodemic”
30 April, 09:00 Bogota time
Virtual workshop (on Hangouts Meet)
- Topic: “(Info)media Vs (Info)demia o cómo enfrentar el virus de la desinformación” (in Spanish)
1 May, 09:00 Bogota time
World premiere of the audiovisual series (on the Edumedia-3 YouTube channel)
- Topic: “(Info)media, educación para la información” (in Spanish)
4, 5, 7 May, 17:00 Madrid time
Webinar by GAPMIL member, Communication and Education Cabinet of the Autonomous University of Barcelona
- Topic: “El periodismo de cualidad en la era de la desinformación” (in Spanish)
7 May, 15:00 Paris time
Webinar by two GAPMIL experts
- Topic: “MIL Parenting”
8 May, 15:00 Manila time
Webinar by a GAPMIL Youth Representative (on https://www.facebook.com/PAMIL.PH/)
- Topic: “MIL Initiaitves Agaisnt the Infodemic: The Philippine Youth Response”
13 May, 18:00 Brasilia time
Webinar by a GAPMIL expert, on Instagram @danibertioficial
- Topic: “MIL: 1000 opportunities to take after the Coronavirus”
14 May, 16:00 Paris time
Webinar by two GAPMIL experts
- Topic: “MIL and critical online presence to deal with COVID19 crisis and beyond”
16 May, 21:00 GMT
Webinar by a GAPMIL Youth Committee representative, on Instagram @jihadbnimoussa
- Topic: “The Science of Self Care: Addressing Misconceptions”
20 May, 16:00 Paris time
Webinar by two GAPMIL Youth Ambassadors and a GAPMIL expert
- Topic: “Cases on youth engagement to address COVID-19 disinformation”
23 May, 15:00 Bogota time
Webinar by a GAPMIL Youth Committee representative (on https://www.facebook.com/GAPMILYouth)
- Topic: “Empathic Communication and Dialogue: Ubuntu, Solidarity, and Healing Letters in Pandemic Times”
26 May, 22:00 Manila time
Webinar by a GAPMIL Youth Committee representative (on https://www.facebook.com/GAPMILYouth)
- Topic: “How to Support Persons with Disabilities on the Web”
28 May, 15:00 Paris time
Webinar by six GAPMIL experts
- Topic: “MIL opportunities for business and entrepreneurs in a transformed world”
30 May, 18:00 Ottawa time
Webinar by a GAPMIL Youth Committee representative (on https://www.facebook.com/GAPMILYouth)
- Topic: “Keeping Mental Health in Mind: Coping with Online Discrimination and Information Overload during COVID-19”
4 June, 16:00 Paris time
Webinar by two GAPMIL experts
- Topic: “MIL, Media and Mindset”
6 June, 10:00 EST
Webinar by a GAPMIL Youth Committee representative (on https://www.facebook.com/GAPMILYouth)
- Topic: “African Youth on the Frontlines of the COVID-19 Crisis”
11 June, 16:00 Paris time
Webinar by four GAPMIL experts
- Topic: “MIL and Public Policies”
18 June, 16:00 Paris time
Webinar by four GAPMIL experts
- Topic: “MIL and Quality Journalism”
25 June, 16:00 Paris time
Webinar by four GAPMIL experts
- Topic: “MIL for Indigenous People”
2 July, 16:00 Paris time
Webinar by three GAPMIL experts
- Topic: “MIL as a defense against privacy and data protection infringements”
9 July, 16:00 Paris time
Webinar by four GAPMIL experts
- Topic: “MIL and Public Policies, Part II”
Global Online Resources
How can you help maintain healthy information, technology, media environments?
We have worked with our global organizational partners and MIL leaders to provide a list of quality free media and information literacy resources and materials. See all available resources from the GAPMIL community here.
Crowdsourcing MIL-Related COVID-19 Responses
GAPMIL will crowdsource its COVID-19 response through online actions undertaken by individual members to ensure impact that is more significant. To share MIL-related COVID-19 responses for which you need crowdsourcing support, send relevant information to gapmil@lists.unesco.org. Only members of GAPMIL are authorized to access this mailing list. If you are not yet a member of GAPMIL, you can join via this link: https://en.unesco.org/themes/media-and-information-literacy/gapmil/join.
Tips Against the Infodemic
- Look always for certified national contact points against the ‘pandemia’ (e.g., Ministry of Health, Ministry of Information & Communication, etc.)
- Verify the information you read about the ‘pandemia’ (e.g. homemade medicines and conspiracy theories about 5G)
- Visit national and regional digital solidarity and digital training platforms
- Search and look for easy-to-use fact-checking tools
- Learn more about new initiatives launched by UNESCO’s and its partners, like UNESCO’s
- Information Sharing and Countering Disinformation and Global Education Coalition, and new resources on distance learning – all in the context of COVID-19 responses.
- Audio resources to counter disinformation
- Visual resources to download and share
UNESCO MIL CLICKS
MIL CLICKS is a social media innovation led by UNESCO. MIL CLICKS is a way for people - especially youth - to acquire media and information literacy (MIL) competencies in their normal day-to-day use of the Internet and social media and to engage in peer education in an atmosphere of browsing, playing, connecting, sharing, and socializing. More information at https://en.unesco.org/MILCLICKS
Stay connected to the global MIL movement. Share and sign the MIL Clicks Pact, now available in 5 languages, https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/mil_clicks_pact_english.pdf
GAPMIL Youth Ambassadors' COVID-19 Information Campaign
GAPMIL Youth Ambassadors launched an information campagin through the "Health and Information Literacy Access (HILA) Alliance" initiative in order to address three key challenges, as it relates to COVID-19:
- Ensure the accessibility of credible information for marginalized individuals and communities;
- Build media and information literacy capacities in order to tackle dis- and mis-information and stimulate MIL peer education and learning online;
- and Combat racism and discrimination by mobilizing people, governments, and organizations to support the development and realization of more inclusive communities both online and offline.
Over 60 volunteers have been mobilized from around the world to support the campaign with translation, design, advocacy, and educational work. The GAPMIL Youth Ambassadors are committed to breaking the COVID-19 disinformation cycle in marginalized communities who lack access to credible resources of information as a result of a lack of internet connection, different accessibility needs, and or existing socio-economic inequalities and injustice. The core activities of the HILA Alliance initiative include: a database of credible sources of information; a comprehensive information guide on COVID-19; multimedia content, including infographics, webinars, radio broadcasts, and community-based interventions; and MIL capacity building.
Credible Resource List: a database that contains credible sources of information on COVID-19, in over 70 languages. Information sources include international organizations, such as the WHO, civil society organization, and health authorities.
- Grid view: https://airtable.com/shrX7qsmyq9qmrKPX
- Kanban view: https://airtable.com/shrKYfDOp6QrneMYi
COVID-19 Information Guide: a compilation of information on COVID-19 from credible sources, using simple and easily accessible language. The GAPMIL Youth Ambassadors aim to translate the package to as many languages as possible, with particular emphasis on languages spoken and utilized by marginalized communities, including Indigenous and sign languages. Sample guide in Portuguese and English.
GAPMIL
The Global Alliance for Partnerships on Media and Information Literacy (GAPMIL) is a groundbreaking effort to promote international cooperation to ensure that all citizens have access to media and information competencies. UNESCO and partners all over the world spearhead GAPMIL. Organizations from over one hundred countries have agreed to join forces and stand together for change. This pioneering initiative was launched during the Global Forum for Partnerships on Media and Information Literacy (MIL), which took place from 26 to 28 June 2013.
More information at http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/media-development/media-literacy/global-alliance-for-partnerships-on-media-and-information-literacy/
Contacts:
Some of the GAPMIL partners are listed below:
Co-Chairs:
Mr Jesus Lau (Mexico)
Professor
Director of the USBI VER Library
Universidad Veracruzana
Mr Alexandre Le Voci Sayad (Brazil)
CEO of ZeitGeist
Director of Advisor Consultancy Board of Educamídiia Programme
Co-Vice-Chairs:
Ms Joanne Plante (Canada)
Head of the Libraries Division
City of Laval
Ms Sherri Hope Culver (USA)
Associate Professor
Director of the Center for Media and Information Literacy
Temple University
Co-Secretary-Generals:
Ms Irene Andriopoulou (Greece)
EU Media Literacy Expert / Analyst
National Centre of Audiovisual Media & Communication - EKOME SA
Ms Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe (USA)
Professor and Coordinator for Information Literacy Services at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Regional Representative for Africa:
Mr Wallace Gichunge (Kenya)
Executive Director
Centre for Media and Information Literacy
Regional Representative for Arab States:
Mr Ahmad Al-Khasawneh (Jordan)
Professor, Hashemite University, Director of Center Information
Communication and e-Learning Technology
Regional Representative for Asia-Pacific:
Mr Jose Reuben Q. Alagaran II (Philippines)
President, Philippine Association for Media and Information Literacy
Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean:
Mr Felipe Chibás Ortiz (Cuba)
Associate Professor, University of Sao Paulo
Regional Representative for North America and Europe:
Ms Tessa Jolls (USA)
President, Center for Media Literacy
Founder, Consortium for Media Literacy
Youth Representatives:
Ms Beatrice Bonami (Brazil)
GAPMIL Youth Ambassador for Latin America and the Carribean
Researcher, University of Sao Paulo
Ms Bushra Ebadi (Canada)
GAPMIL Youth Ambassador for Europe and North America
Youth Adviser, Canadian Commission for UNESCO
Mr Daniel Nwaeze (Nigeria)
Media and Communications, Afrika Youth Movement
Global Youth Coordinator, GAPMIL Youth Sub-Committee
UNESCO
Alton Grizzle, Programme Specialist
Jing Xu, Associate Project Officer
Hana Achargui, Junior Project Consultant