“It’s complicated, but we put it “simply”. Analysis of the media literacy framing in Latvian Media Support Fund projects (2018 - 2020)

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34629/cpublica.513

Keywords:

media and information literacy, metajournalistic approach, journalism epistemiology, ideological model of literacy, state-supported journalism

Abstract

This study examines the framing of media and information literacy issues in media projects financed by the Latvian Media Support Fund and discusses the professional quality of MIL-related content with project beneficiaries and media experts. The study uses the ideological model of literacy, linking it with the metajournalistic approach to explore changes in MIL-related journalistic professional epistemology. Employing the three datasets (journalists and editors’ survey, framing analysis of MIL-related media content, and qualitative semi-structured interviews), the research concludes that MIL representation in the commercial media is mostly superficial, and the audience is not offered the range of MIL competencies appropriate for the contemporary understanding of the notion. MIL content in the media is represented using educational, warning, and formal MIL framing.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

  • Anda Rozukalne, Rīga Stradiņš University

    Professor, Faculty of Communication at Rīga Stradiņš University, holds doctoral degree in media sociology; her reasearch interests and many academic publications are related to the analysis of journalistic epistemology and development of the media system, and the study of media audience transformation processes. Rožukalne represents Latvia in the European Commission's study Media Pluralism Monitor and in the global study Worlds of Journalism Studies, she has worked in the European Commission's High-Level Expert Working Group dedicated to preventing disinformation and fake news online.

  • Aija Kažoka, Riga Stradiņš University

    Holds the Master’s Degree of Social Sciences in Information and Communication Sciences; she is a PhD student of Rīga Stradiņš University study program Communication Culture and Multimedia and works as a teacher of health journalism course. Kažoka is working as a Chief editor of the specialized juornal for doctors Medicus Bonus. Academic interests: Application of critical discourse analysis in health policy research, media policy and media literacy, health communication, disinformation.

References

Ashley, S., Maksl, A., & Craft, S. (2013). Developing a news media literacy scale. Journalism & mass communication educator, 68, 7-21.

Ashley, S. (2015). Media literacy in action? What are we teaching in introductory college media studies courses? Journalism & mass communication educator, 70(2), 161-173. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077695815572191.

Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2019). Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative research in sport, exercise and health, 11(4), 589-597. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1628806.

Candlin, C. N. (2014). General editor’s preface. In B. L. Gunnarsson, P. Linell, & B. Nordberg (Eds.), The construction of professional discourse (pp. viii-xiv). Routledge.

Carlson, M. (2016). Metajournalistic discourse and the meanings of journalism: Definitional control, boundary work, and legitimation. Communication theory, 26(4), 349-368. https://doi.org/10.1111/comt.12088.

Central Statistical Bureau. (2021). Statistical Yearbook of Latvia. https://stat.gov.lv/en/statistics-themes/economy/national-accounts/publications-and-infographics/7251-statistical-yearbook.

Christ, W. G. (2004). Assessment, media literacy standards, and higher education. American Behavioral Scientist, 48, 92-96.

Clark, L. S. (2013). Cultivating the media activist: How critical media literacy and critical service learning can reform journalism education. Journalism, 14(7), 885-903. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884913478361.

Chu, D. & Lee, A. Y. L. (2014). Media education initiatives by media organizations: The uses of media literacy in Hong Kong media. Journalism & mass communication educator, 69(2), 127-145. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077695813517884.

Ekström, M. & Westlund, O. (2019). Epistemology and journalism. In Oxford Encyclopedia of Journalism Studies. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.013.806.

Ekström, M., Lewis, S. C., & Westlund, O. (2020). Epistemologies of digital journalism and the study of misinformation. New media & society, 22(2), 205-212. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444819856914.

Elmborg, J. (2012). Critical information literacy: Definitions and challenges. In C. W. Wilkinson & C. Bruch (Eds.), Transforming information literacy programs: Intersecting frontiers of self, library culture, and campus community (No. 64) (pp. 75-80). Association of College and Research Libraries.

Entman, R. M. (1993). Framing: Toward clarification of a fractured, paradigm. Journal of communication, 43(4), 51-58. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.1993.tb01304.x.

Ferrucci, P. (2018). Mo “Meta” Blues: How popular culture can act as metajournalistic discourse. International journal of communication, 12, 4821-4838.

Jones-Jang, S. M., Mortensen, T., & Liu, J. (2021). Does media literacy help identification of fake news? Information literacy helps, but other literacies don’t. American behavioral scientist, 65(2), 371-388. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764219869406.

Koltay, T. (2011). The media and the literacies: Media literacy, information literacy, digital literacy. Media, culture & society, 33(2), 211-221.

Lastovskis, F. (2022, September 22). Biju audzināts, ka tu taču esi «russkij» – pieminekļa Uzvaras parkā vairs nav, tā apmeklētāji paliek [I was taught up that you are "Russian" – the monument in Victory Park is no longer there, the visitors remain]. LSM. https://lr1.lsm.lv/lv/raksts/atvertie-faili/96-bija-ieaudzinats-ka-tu-esi-ruskijs.-pieminekla-vairs-nav-apme.a166197/.

Latvijas Fakti (LF). (2021). Pētījums par Latvijas iedzīvotāju medijpratību un mediju lietošanas paradumiem [Study on media literacy and media usage patterns of Latvian population]. NEPLP. https://www.neplpadome.lv/lv/assets/documents/Petijumi/Pētījums_par_Latvijas_iedzīvotāju_medijpratību_un_mediju_satura_lietošanas_paradumiem_2021.pdf.

Latvijas Fakti (LF). 2020. Latvijas iedzīvotāju medijpratība [Media Literacy of Latvian population]. Kultūras Ministrija. https://www.km.gov.lv/lv/prezentacijas-un-petijumi

Leaning, M. (2017). Media and information literacy. An integrated approach. Kidlington. Chandos Publishing/Elsevier Ltd.

Livingstone, S. (2004). Media literacy and the challenge of new information and communication technologies. The communication review, 7, 3-14.

LR Kultūras ministrija. (n.d.). Mediju politika [Media politics]. Kultūras ministrija https://www.km.gov.lv/lv/mediju-politika/atbildes-uz-biezak-uzdotajiem-jautajumiem.

LSM/LETA (2022, May 3). Aptauja: Latvijā krievvalodīgo vidē atbalsts Krievijai saistībā ar karu Ukrainā aprīlī sarucis [Survey: Support for Russia among Russian-speakers in Latvia has decreased in connection with the war in Ukraine in April]. LSM. https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/aptauja-latvija-krievvalodigo-vide-atbalsts-krievijai-saistiba-ar-karu-ukraina-aprili-sarucis.a455039/.

Mārtinsone, K., Pipere, A., & Kamerāde, D. (2016). Pētniecība: teorija un prakse [The Reseach: Theory and Practice]. RaKa.

Mihailidis, P. (2005). Media literacy in journalism/mass communication education: Can the United States learn from Sweden? Journalism & mass communication educator, 60(4), 415-428. https://doi.org/10.1177/107769580506000409.

Mihailidis, P. (2009). Beyond cynicism: Media education and civic learning outcomes in the university. International journal of learning and media, 1(3), 19-31.

Mihailidis, P. & Viotty, S. (2017). Spreadable spectacle in digital culture: Civic expression, fake news, and the role of media literacies in “post-fact” society. American behavioral scientist, 61(4), 441-454. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764217701217.

Ministru Kabinets. (2016). Latvijas mediju politikas pamatnostādnes 2016.-2020.gadam (2016) [Guidelines of Latvia’s media politics 2016 – 2020]. https://likumi.lv/ta/id/286455-par-latvijas-mediju-politikas-pamatnostadnem-2016-2020-gadam.

Murschetz, P. C. (2019). State-supported journalism economics. In T. Vos & V. Hanusch (Eds.), The international encyclopedia of journalism studies. John Wiley & Sons.

Perreault, M. F. & Perreault, G. P. (2021). Journalists on COVID-19 Journalism: Communication ecology of pandemic reporting. American behavioral scientist, 65(7), 976-991. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764221992813.

Rožukalne, A., Skulte, I., & Stakle, A. (2020). Media education in the common interest: Public perceptions of media literacy policy in Latvia. Central european journal of communication, 13(2/26), 202-229. https://doi.org/10.19195/1899-5101.13.2(26).4.

Singh, N. & Banga, G. (2022). Media and information literacy for developing resistance to ‘infodemic’: lessons to be learnt from the binge of misinformation during COVID-19 pandemic. Media, culture & society, 44(1), 161-171. https://doi.org/10.1177/01634437211060201.

Skippage, R. (2020). The role of public service media in the fight against disinformation? Reuters Institute. University of Oxford. https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2021-02/RISJ_Final%20Report_RebeccaS_2020.pdf.

Skola 2030. (n.d.) Mācību priekšmetu programmas pamatizglītībā [School 2030. Subject programs in primary education]. Skola2030. http://www.skola2030.lv/lv.

Steensen, S. (2019). Journalism’s epistemic crisis and its solution: Disinformation, datafication and source criticism. Journalism, 20(1), 185-189. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884918809271.

Street, B. V. (1984). Literacy in theory and practice. Cambridge University Press.

Street, B. (1994). Cross-cultural perspectives on literacy. In L. T. Verhoeven (Ed.), Functional literacy: Theoretical issues and educational implications (pp. 95-111). John Benjamins, Publishing Company.

Street, B. (2006). Autonomous and ideological models of literacy: Approaches from New Literacy Studies. Media anthropology network, 17, 1-15.

Trültzsch-Wijnen, C. W., Murru, M. F., & Papaioannou, T. (2017). Definitions and values of media and information literacy in a historical context. In D. Frau-Meigs, I. Velez, & J. F. Michel (Eds.), Public policies in media and information literacy in Europe: cross-country comparisons (pp. 95-115). Taylor & Francis.

UNESCO. (2013). Media and information literacy: policy and strategy guidelines. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000225606.

UNESCO. (2019). Media and information literacy. https://en.unesco.org/themes/media-and-information-literacy.

de Wreese, C. (2005). News framing: theory and typology. Information design journal, 13(1), 51-62. https://doi.org/10.1075/idjdd.13.1.06vre.

Xiao, X., Su, Y., & Lee, D. K. L. (2021). Who consumes new media content more wisely? Examining personality factors, SNS use, and new media literacy in the era of misinformation. Social media + society. https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305121990635.

Downloads

Published

2022-12-15

Issue

Section

Special Issue: Media Literacy: Strategies to Intensify Citizenship and Democracy

How to Cite

“It’s complicated, but we put it “simply”. Analysis of the media literacy framing in Latvian Media Support Fund projects (2018 - 2020) . (2022). Comunicação Pública, 17(33). https://doi.org/10.34629/cpublica.513