Media Literacy

1st January – 31st December 2008

In August 2006 we established a Media Literacy Network aimed at supporting partners from across Scotland in all forms of media press, TV, film, radio, and the internet. The group brings together a range of media providers from the voluntary, public and private sectors to consider the importance of media literacy in Scottish society and to develop joint projects to address the digital divide. 

Starting off with a £400 grant to pay for the media literacy network’s meeting costs from Ofcom, the network has co-ordinated and organised two media literacy practice sharing conferences, a learners’ voices event, 3 regional seminars and a community radio conference in 2007. The members have all been working hard to help deliver the agenda despite the funding promised for the network not having been made available.

They have also recorded radio broadcasts, made community DVD’s and offered hand’s on training in the internet, film development and radio during the campaigns programme, which Scotland’s Learning Partnership had to secure the funding for as funding had been promised but not delivered.

As a result of the interest in developing community radio as a way of working to develop skills in local communities the network agreed that a sub group should be formed to focus on community radio.  At the first meeting of the new group it became apparent that they wanted to broaden their focus from community radio to include community TV, internet and they adopted the name 'Scottish Community Broadcasting Network', to reflect their desire to widen the scope to other areas of broadcasting such as film and television.

The CB Network aims to consider how we can work together more effectively to engage a greater number of communities in creating local media. The CB network is working on the development of a project to facilitate grassroots access to information communication technologies by enabling local people to use the media including Radio, TV and the Internet, at the same time learning computer literacy skills and team working in responsive and supportive environments. 

Community broadcasting could not operate without the help and support of many volunteers (an average of between 20-50 per radio station currently) and the network are keen to develop ways to support training in team working and roles and responsibilities will develop volunteers in the targeted communities to build a substantial community resource.

If you want further information contact Tracy Waddell on 0131 220 5567 or e-mail tracy.waddell@scotlandslearning.org.uk

See all themes running in January 2008 or the whole of 2008.