At the Global Media and Information Literacy Week Debate, students from the Caribbean School of Media and Communications (CARIMAC) programme at the University of West Indies, Mona (UWI) and the Bachelor of Communication Arts and Technology (BaCAT) programme at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech,Ja.) shared their stances on media literacy.
Debaters’ Stance on Media Literacy
To fuel the need for media literacy at the primary school level, representatives from UWI, Mona and UTech, Ja laid the foundation of the concept in the form of a debate. This debate was organized by the World Association for Christian Communication (WAAC), the University of the West Indies, Mona (UWI, Mona), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). UWI stood firm on the stance that teaching this at the primary level is imperative, while UTech Ja opposed. “Children are smarter than you think. From ages 3-5, they form their realities; they can separate fantasy and fiction from the reality we give them; therefore, we must give them the tools to establish the reality realistically” said Marceline Moodie, a debater from the affirmative team. She further stated that to be competent at something, one must start from an early age.
As for the opposing team, they placed their concerns about planting the idea of media literacy at the primary level. Debater Shanice Thompson said “It is imperative that we let our children remain children and clean up the mess we made of the world ourselves”. Though she firmly stood on media literacy not being taught at the primary level, that stance did come easy “it was hard to go against it, knowing where we are as a society and how social media is progressing.”
Call to Action For Media Literacy
To Dr. Dana Morris Dixon, Jamaica’s newly appointed Minister of Education Skills, Youth, and Information, believes educating children about media literacy is urgent and necessary. As a result of today’s digital age, children are exposed to a flood of misleading and manipulative information, disinformation, and misinformation. To help them navigate this complex media landscape, the ministry ought to consider a new nationwide campaign aimed at media literacy.
The campaign can be a first step in addressing the issue of media literacy among our children. Therefore, the campaign’s initial stage should be to educate parents, guardians, and the broader public about the importance of media literacy. The campaign would involve community seminars, social media outreach, and internet resources to assist families in teaching their children how to critically evaluate the media they consume. By encouraging collaboration among parents, educators, and legislators, the campaign should aim to lay the groundwork for a generation of informed, responsible digital citizens. The purpose is to provide students with the necessary skills to flourish in a digital/media-driven world.
Together, we can create a future where every child is equipped to navigate the digital age responsibly and confidently.
Reported by : Noelle Robinson and Jhada Cohen