National Media Literacy Plan 2025-2029 officially approved
The Portuguese Council of Ministers approved, on March 10, the National Media Literacy Plan (PNLM) for the period 2025 to 2029, as announced by the Government.
The Plan seeks to consolidate the national strategy for media literacy and fight against disinformation, as defined in the Media Action Plan. The complete text of the Plan can be found in the Resolution published on March 18.
The four main objectives of the PNLM 2025-2029 are “to promote media literacy among all audiences”, “to combat disinformation and fake news”, “to encourage responsible and informed content consumption” and “to promote a more informed and participatory citizenship”.
The Plan also aims to “foster the understanding of media literacy as a sine qua non condition for democracy and digital citizenship, as well as for the promotion of human rights and the prevention of hate speech” and to “empower traditional media […] and new media […] in their relationship with technologies such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence”.
Additional goals of the Plan include “involving the media”, “leveraging synergies with other literacies” and monitor and evaluate “the actions developed” within the scope of the Plan itself.
The Governmental Structure for Media, known as #PortugalMediaLab, is responsible for the implementation of the PNLM 2025-2029, which involves developing the activities defined in the Plan and encouraging public and private entities operating in this field to promote media literacy.
The Informal Group on Media Literacy (GILM), of which School of Communication and Media Studies (ESCS-IPL) is a member, may “monitor the implementation of the PNLM 2025-2029 and contribute to the preparation of strategic instruments and activity planning, as well as to their monitoring and evaluation”, as we can read in the Resolution.
According to the document, the annual budget for implementing the Plan is 600,000 euros.
Each year, #PortugalMediaLab must submit an annual report on the implementation of the Plan by March 31, and an action plan for the following year by October 31.
The proposal is that the PNLM 2025-2029 will remain in effect until April 30, 2029.
The Plan was open for public consultation until February 22, 2025. Some of the proposals submitted regarded strengthening media literacy training for teachers and, decentralizing initiatives and involving all associative movements and organizations working in this area.
