What is Media Literacy?
Media literacy refers to the ability to critically assess information that is received daily via different media platforms. When a person is media literate, he would be able to read, analyse and interpret messages, regardless of whether he is using media to gain information, for entertainment or for educational purposes.
A Media Savvy Population
Increasingly, in this age of connectedness that we live in, media literacy is becoming a life skill that is essential for work, learning and play.
To be media savvy, one is encouraged to have the following attributes;
Awareness (A): Having the basic awareness of new media technologies,
Competency (C):Having the basic functional/technical competency and skill sets to use media for work learning and play,
Engagement (E): Having the critical thinking and discerning skills as to use media responsibly and safely.
To ensure that Singapore is able to benefit from the use of media, and to spur the growth of a vibrant media industry, MDA aims to foster a media savvy population through various media education programmes.
Internet and Media Advisory Committee (INMAC)
The Internet and Media Advisory Committee (INMAC) is an advisory and consultative council that looks into media literacy and cyber wellness related policies, issues and programmes.
The committee is made up of 24 representatives from the community, the public sector and private sectors companies such as HP, Microsoft, Touch Community Services, MediaCorp and SPH.
The committee’s terms of reference are as follows:
· Consult the public and provide feedback to MDA and the Inter-Ministry Taskforce on media literacy and cyber wellness related policies, public education programmes and research
· Advise and make recommendations to MDA and the Inter-Ministry Taskforce on key issues to address – and how to address them – including the kinds of programmes needed
· Facilitate and promote cyber wellness and media literacy public education programmes in Singapore
Inter-Ministry Cyber Wellness Steering Committee (ICSC)
The Inter-Ministry Cyber Wellness Steering Committee was formed on 1 May 2009 and comprises representatives from the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Inforcomm Development Authority as well as MDA.