News
Global MIL Week 2023 aims to expand Media and Information Literacy in digital spaces
UNESCO’s annual conference, hosted this year at the Dead Sea in Jordan, will focus on mobilizing partners, reinforcing political commitment and securing resources to integrate media and information literacy (MIL) into policies, operations and products at various levels.
In today’s digital landscape, with 62,5% of the global population using the internet and 58,4% active on social media, the rise of online disinformation, conspiracy theories and hate speech continues to pose a threat to societies.
In this ocean of information – of disinformation, of misinformation –education fosters critical thinking and civic and social engagement. And this is part of UNESCO’s mandate, and this is at the heart of our actions with our partners.
To address these challenges, UNESCO, in cooperation with the Government of Jordans, is organizing the 2023 Global MIL Conference from 23-25 October 2023 at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre, Dead Sea, under the patronage of the King of Jordan.
The conference will feature ten plenary sessions covering various aspects of media and information literacy in digital spaces, including journalism, media policies, education, the film and gaming industry, child and adolescent wellbeing, artificial intelligence and the role of social media influencers. International speakers and experts include Khadija Benguenna, lead presenter from Al Jazeera, Tracy Manners from Meta’s Oversight Board, Reema Diab, CEO of Galaxy for Technology, Carolyn Wilson, executive director of the McLuhan Foundation and journalist and author Rizwan Khan. Tawakkol Karman, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, will deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony.
Enhanced cooperation will be a key component of the conference, with a UN Round Table aiming at coordinating joint actions across UN Programmes and Funds, and a ministerial segment to share effective policies and strategies.
The full agenda of the conference is available on this page.
Around 40 side events, organized by media organizations, universities, and NGOs will offer panel discussions, workshops and training sessions on topics such as fact-checking (Media Development Foundation), digital influencers’ responsibility (Redes Cordiais) and MIL for marginalized and disadvantaged communities (Media Diversity Institute). Organizers of side events also include Anna Lindh Foundation, World Health Organization (WHO), Canal France International (CFI), Jordan Media Institute, DW Academie, International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), among others.
Additionally, regional discussions will address artificial intelligence in Asia, MIL Cities in the Arab region, media regulators in the Iberian-American region and the African perspectives on MIL.
The conference will also involve youth through two initiatives: the Youth Hackathon, bringing together over 230 teams from 50 countries, and the youth newsroom, where participants like Heba Dwikat, a 24 years-old from Palestine will contribute to global narratives and discussions.
