MEDIA AND
INFORMATION
LITERACY
The information has become a vital
part of Ghana and the world as a
whole.
Through
digitization,
the
need
for
information
increases
every time to keep up with the world.
Written by Adelaide Enyonam
We are fed with information through
technology which has made easy for the
transmission of information. This high
demand for information has paved the way
for disinformation, fake news, cyberbullying
etc. One may ask what is INFORMATION
LITERACY? INFORMATION LITERACY
is the set of abilities that enables people
to recognize the value of information and
use it to make informed choices in their
personal, professional and academic lives
(source University of Fort Hare). This covers
the individual’s ability to decipher the
information, determine if the need has been
met. Information Literacy is in the light,
the Media also play an important role in
disseminating information to the public. Their
roles affect how consumers react to the given
information.
MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY
is the combination of knowledge, attitudes,
skills and practices required to access,
analyse, use, produce and communicate
information and knowledge in creative,
legal and ethical ways that respect human
rights. (Source Moscow Declaration on
58 | Colossium . March 2020
Media and Information Literacy, 2012). The
Media is the newspaper, television, social
media, magazines etc. An excerpt from the
New York Times on 8th July 1983 by Daniel
J. Boorstin shares his view on how people
are drowning in technology and the fog
of information is driving out knowledge.
Through the disinformation, people fail to
value knowledge in the information or bring
out hidden messages. Thus, the consumers
become judgmental because they failed
to decipher the information and value the
message behind it.
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