09 April 2019
© UNESCO
The annual Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week Feature Conference and Youth Agenda Forum will be held this year from 24 to 26 September under the theme “MIL Citizens: Informed, Engaged, Empowered.” UNESCO, UNAOC, the Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue (MILID) University Network, the UNESCO-led Global Alliance for Partnerships on MIL (GAPMIL), in partnership with the local hosts County Council Region Västra Götaland and University of Gothenburg (Sweden), are pleased to invite proposals for case study/project-related presentations and academic papers for the Feature Conference.
How?
Online submissions of abstracts (500 words maximum including references), together with a short biography of each author and 3-5 keywords, should be made via this online form. Deadline: 15th May 2019.
A Scientific Committee will evaluate and select proposals based on their relevance to the sub-themes outlined, among other criteria. The authors of selected papers and presentations will be invited to present at the Global MIL Week 2019 Feature Conference on 24 and 25 September 2019 at the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Center in Gothenburg, Sweden. Selected authors will also be invited to submit full versions of their papers for publication in the MILID Yearbook 2019.
When?
- Deadline for submission of abstract: 15th May 2019
- Notification of acceptance: 30th May 2019
- Deadline for submission of full papers for MILID Yearbook 2019: 8th September 2019
Who?
All stakeholders from the MIL community across the world, including civil society groups, academic community, research centres, think tanks, governments and public policy makers, United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations, MIL-relevant industries (communication and media companies, technological intermediaries, advertising, film industries, gaming sector, content industries, etc.), other relevant private sector organizations, city officials, smart cities[1], creative cities[2], knowledge networks, education institutions, youth organizations, libraries, museums, archives, other social media actors, and information and media professionals.
Rationale
Global MIL Week Feature Conference 2019 will address the concept of MIL Citizens and how MIL can contribute to improving the levels of information, engagement, and empowerment for all. By highlighting these issues, we can progress towards the objectives of open and pluralistic information systems, promoting sustainable development, inclusion, equality, intercultural dialogue, and safeguarding democracy.
The keywords in the theme of the Feature Conference can be penetrated and discussed from the micro as well as the macro perspective, from an individual point of view as well as institutional and societal levels. In times of rapid societal changes, including in sustainable development, information, technology, and media – how can MIL empower people while building trust? Can we raise critical awareness in the use of media and information sources without risking trust? How can MIL enhance access to media and information? How can the key competencies about how to navigate in the information, media, and technological landscape be taught? Are there innovative ways of reaching out to the adult population who are outside the educational system? How can societies, through good governance, enable a positive development of MIL? What are the cornerstones in facilitating positive initiatives and actions? What can we learn from each other’s experiences to concentrate our efforts to maximize the benefits of what new technology, digitalization, and cooperation provide and to minimize the risks?
The UNESCO-led Global MIL Week Feature Conference is a forum for open and constructive dialogue and discussion about issues and topics shared in many corners of the world. It is a capstone event celebrating state of the art initiatives as well as finding ways forward.
Topics for presentations and papers should be within the fields of MIL and connected to MIL citizens as empowered and informed members of the society; examples of relevant and current research and practices contributing to the enhancement of MIL at the local, national or international levels; policy-related work and government actions that enable sustainable MIL development; studies of the use of media, information and technology as well as other innovative ways to advance MIL development among people. (Please see a list of sub-themes below).
The Global MIL Week 2019 Youth Agenda Forum will take place on 26 September 2019 at the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Center in Gothenburg, Sweden. Follow the Global MIL Week 2019 official website for updates (coming soon).
For more information, please contact Alton Grizzle (a.grizzle@unesco.org), Xu Jing (ji.xu@unesco.org), or Wang Xiaotong (x.wang2@unesco.org).
Sub-themes
- MIL and the SDGs
- Lifelong learning – MIL and the role of civil society, media, social media, and public service media
- Disinformation, propaganda, and MIL
- Promoting intercultural dialogue
- MIL, elections, good governance
- MIL and freedom of expression: Hate speech, dialogue, and engagement
- Youth: Formal/informal education, and peer education
- Youth and news
- Coordination and national policies concerning MIL: examples
- MIL assessment: Evaluation of efforts, achievements, effectiveness
- Teacher training; how to educate the educators?
- MIL role in privacy and protection of personal data (General Data Protection Regulation)
- MIL Futures: Innovation, best practices, challenges, the next step, where are we heading?
- Innovation, tools, state of the art technology such as artificial intelligence enhancing MIL
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1. A smart city is an urban area that uses different types of electronic Internet of things (IoT) sensors to collect data and then use these data to manage assets and resources efficiently.
2. Creative cities place creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their development plans at the local level and cooperating actively at the international level. The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was created in 2004 and currently has 180 member cities. See more: https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/
Now on Twitter, but do not just follow me! Rather, let us walk together on Twitter for a better world and internet that enables - You, UNESCO, and me! @GrizzleAlton. Alton Grizzle, http://en.unesco.org/themes/media-and-information-literacy
Programme Specialist – Media Development and Society Section/ Médias Développement et société, Liberté d’expression et développement des médias, Communication and Information Sector, UNESCO, Paris – Phone: +33.1.4568.0890
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