Chair

Communication, Media Information Literacy and Citizenship

The UNESCO Chair “Communication, Media Information Literacy and Citizenship” is an initiative aimed at addressing the challenges of the 21st century, a time marked by an unprecedented digitization of communication. While the benefits of digital media are undeniable, their uncritical use has led to misinformation, fake news, hatred and intolerance. These phenomena threaten the sustainability of tolerant, inclusive and democratic societies, where full citizenship is both a right and a duty.

In this context, media education and citizenship development are essential. They allow for the construction of a diversified coalition of autonomous individuals who recognize, analyze and resist harmful forms of expression and communication. The Chair aims to integrate research and education into society to develop fundamental skills for communicating and understanding the world critically, while resisting polarization and stereotypes.

The teaching and research carried out at ESCS support this chair and are at the center of international cooperation. This includes notably the countries of the South and Lusophone, encouraging academic alliances and promoting knowledge sharing.

The Chair shares the principles of UNESCO, promoting communication for inclusive, multicultural and democratic societies. It aims to bridge the gap between academia and civil society, to develop media education, to defend freedom of expression, to fight against hate speech and misinformation, while promoting responsible critical thinking and preventing violent extremism. In addition, it aims to develop actions and projects for sustainable societies, while strengthening knowledge for climate action.

Unique international identifier of the Chair awarded by UNESCO: 2024PT2736

Cover image by Freepik
Mission

Communication is as much a compromise as it is the recognition of the other, both at the root of democratic societies. The XXI century is marked by the unprecedented digitalization of communication, and though the benefits of digital media are undeniable, their indiscriminate and uncritical use brought disinformation, misinformation, fake news, hatred and intolerance menacing the sustainability of tolerant, inclusive and democratic societies where full citizenship is both a right and a duty. In this context, media and information literacy and citizenship cultivation are crucial, building a diverse coalition of empowered people who recognize, analyse, and resist harmful forms of expression and communication. The chair proposal is a process of research and education integration in society to develop the fundamental skills to communicate and critically understand the world, resisting polarization and stereotyping while shortening the participatory gap that hinders engaged and well-informed citizens.

Values

Imbued in the values and mission of UNESCO, the Chair is grounded on the cross-cutting nature of the Education 2030 Agenda, the SDGs, the Medium-Term strategy 2022-2029 and UNESCO actions on supporting Media and Information Literacy.

  • It sets up a critical process that empowers and engages people as global citizens, with media literacy at the heart of strategies while envisaging a culture of communication that is open, inclusive, critical and based upon respect for human rights and democracy, contributing to human development and understanding of the world.
  • It will work for inclusive and accessible education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all by addressing education, general or specialized and for all ages, as an essential component of media literacy. More educated people are more informed, more aware of critical thinking and less likely to be led by disinformation and misinformation or engage in hate speeches and misogyny.
  • The actions, projects and cooperation will promote freedom of expression and the right to information, as well as combat discrimination, hate speech and gender harassment, through pursuing research projects on these and actively engage in new projects within the network of the Chair.
  • Particular attention will be paid to media literacy in digital media environments as they affirm to be a game changer on disinformation, misinformation and fake news propagation, particularly perpetrated by authoritarian and extremist movements, menacing democracy and freedom of expression, while at the same time remaining in certain regions of the world an opportunity for free information and debate.
  • It will foster knowledge and skills development in the digital and multimedia environment by preparing and supporting citizens to face the constantly changing digitization of society giving them skills grounded on creativity, critical thinking, intercultural dialogue competencies, media use abilities, and participation and interaction opportunities.
Objectives
  • To promote communication for inclusive, multicultural, equal and democratic societies, ensuring education and long-life learning through the creation of open and accessible digital resources and mobility exchanges among the Chair partner’s networks.
  • To develop media and information literacy by promoting freedom of speech, countering hate speech and disinformation whilst fostering critical thought and enhancing the bridge between the academy and civil society through knowledge transfer (digital and other) and cooperation activities on the domains of the Chair.
  • To promote active citizenship and civic engagement by working for and with the communities and civil society organizations by developing actions and projects towards sustainable societies and enhancing knowledge for climate action.

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