Digital literacy crucial for UKís global competitiveness

The topic of media literacy was discussed last week at Virtual Voices, an event which brought together young people, educators, policymakers and media figures. After a series of debates and workshops all 100% of delegates agreed when polled that understanding media literacy is vital for future success and that the government should do more to support media literacy to help Britain remain competitive.

Resources from the event including photographs, podcasts and supporting material are all now available online at www.swscreen.co.uk/virtualvoices

The key conclusions from the event were:

Media industry and education need to work closer together to ensure that young people have a voice

Both industry and education want the same thing: a democracy where everyone has a voice and where talent has a chance to shine.

We must help young people learn how to decipher what information on the web is real, what is a myth or reality, as well as how to communicate online

Teachers and the government have a vital role to play in teaching media literacy skills, or Britain's competitive position will be at risk

Online media presents great opportunities for young people to have their say

Young people are producing some exceptional issues-based work and we need to find ways to bring this into the mainstream

Iain Dale, one of Britain's leading online political activists and the keynote speaker at Virtual Voices discussed the opportunities the internet presents for participation in debate.

Iain said:

There has never been more of an opportunity for young people to get involved with decision making through media. It is possible to influence opinion, organise campaigns and comment on any view that seems biased in a way that has never been possible before. Developing skills in media literacy is essential not only for those young people who want to work in the industry, but for anybody who wants to understand the world around them and have their say on it. Today everyone has a voice.

Two media industry expert panels - one on news and one on emerging platforms in film and TV - provided teachers who attended the event with plenty of food for thought and practical tools for the classroom.

John Freeman, teacher at special media arts college, Frome Community College commented:

ìThe event has impressed to a wider audience how important media literacy is if people are going to engage with the modern world as an audience or as a producerî

Young people also found the event useful and informative:
ìI didnít know why I was putting stuff on YouTube before ñ it was just something I did. Now I understand itís a great way to get noticed and get on in the industryî. Young Filmmaker, Sarah Cassey

ìAll in all Virtual Voices was a great experience, I felt welcomed and listened to, I learnt a lot and I made useful contacts. To end with a showcase of young peopleís work was very inspiring. The issue-based films were great eye-openers for narrow minded people.î Young filmmaker, Paige Copsey

Caroline Norbury, Chief Executive of South West Screen said:

ìThrough Virtual Voices we wanted to look at how we create the right conditions for the public to participate in todayís media-rich world. In particular how we encourage and support young people to have their say and take more ownership in shaping the decisions that affect their lives. We believe that the best way is by helping people to make media themselves, encouraging participation through the web and other platforms in on-going debates and giving them the skills to make their own voices heard.î

Virtual Voices took place on 10th July in Bristol. It was organised by South West Screen, the development agency for the creative media industries in the South West of England.

The day included a screening of work produced by young people, the films of which will be online on Tuesday 15th July at www.youtube.com/southwestscreen

A podcast of the introduction and keynote speech from the day is at http://www.swscreen.co.uk/podcast. The panel discussions are also to be uploaded shortly.