EDMO Ireland is providing media literacy training to a panel of trainers from Media Literacy Ireland (MLI). Both organisations share the goal of increasing media literacy in Ireland. However, neither EDMO Ireland nor MLI is in a position to deliver training nationwide. Instead, the MLI-certified trainer panel will identify individuals with expertise in different aspects of media, provide them with training on media literacy, and support them in delivering media literacy training in their own contexts.
As part of their certification, trainers commit to completing dedicated training in media literacy provided by EDMO Ireland. In August, EDMO introduced an initial set of key concepts to a group of 15 prospective trainers. This draft resource explored what media literacy is and outlined four key concepts:
- Media representations are not neutral
- Media owners and funders have agendas
- All media operate in regulatory frameworks
- People experience the same media differently
These concepts were framed as tools to encourage critical engagement with all kinds of media, rather than instructions on what to believe.
Following feedback from the trainers, EDMO Ireland will now create an expanded resource and, importantly, incorporate a fifth key concept on active citizenship and user agency. This addition highlights that individuals are not just passive recipients of media but can actively shape and respond to the media environment.
By supporting the development of MLI-certified trainers, EDMO Ireland is helping to embed consistent, high-quality approaches to media literacy in communities across Ireland.
