Measuring media literacy in the EU : results from the Media Pluralism Monitor 2015

Abstract

The Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom is developing and testing a number of indicators through the Media Pluralism Monitor,[1] a tool for assessing risks to media pluralism in the EU and beyond. This paper discusses the Monitor methodology and the results of the assessment of media literacy to date. The results from the Monitor implementation in 19 EU Member States in 2015 show that there is lack of comprehensive media literacy policy across Europe. Only four of the assessed countries have a tradition of policymaking in media literacy and well-developed policies in place (Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany). Moreover, the Monitor assessment indicates that the populations of the examined countries, on average, have insufficient digital competencies (i.e. information, communication, problem-solving and software skills). Only Finland, Sweden and Luxembourg score low risk regarding digital skills of individuals. The paper also notes that the media literacy indicator tested by the Monitor in 2015 was limited in scope. The indicator has been expanded in the 2016 edition of the Monitor but the key limitation remains the lack of data on the individuals’ capacity to analyse, interpret and produce media messages.