At the dawn of spring, a group of children dressed in rain pants and tiny rubber boots were waiting for me at the door of my workplace. A local daycare center had expressed its desire to visit the local newspaper with two groups of children of different ages.
At that point, as the little ones sucked their juice boxes and stared at the corners of the conference room with round eyes, I wondered if this visit made any sense. Do these little ones even understand what this place is, where the “funny lady” talks a lot and points at things?
Later, I discussed my moment of uncertainty with my colleague, who aptly reminded me that even though the visit was short, it was likely to leave a positive impression on our young guests. Perhaps the next time a child hears about media or the news, they will remember that the place the “funny lady” introduced them to is the very place where the news are being made.
In this case, my real success will be if future media consumers are left with the impression that the local newspaper is familiar and safe – at the same time perhaps a reliable and accessible tool for navigating the information flow.
That which one learns young, one will master when old
Media education starts with small, age-appropriate actions. Even a five-year-old can understand what it means to have reliable information, even if explaining the terminology of disinformation, clickbait and source criticism should be left to older age groups. Studies cited by The Finnish Society on Media Education among others, have shown that media education can significantly improve individuals’ media literacy and reduce the impact of disinformation.
I think it would be worthwhile for all local media to be part of this journey of guiding young children and, a few years later, aware teenagers towards media-literate adulthood. Local newspapers can provide verified and reliable information on events and phenomena in the area, while at the same time helping to separate fact from fiction. The speculation on the city’s savings targets, started on social media busker radio, quickly fades when accompanied by news of the real content of the change budget.
The local newspaper can also be a tool for developing critical thinking and empathy. Interviews of people of different ages and backgrounds and their life stories, can broaden the reader’s perspective and challenge them to think more deeply about the subject. Ellu-Marjata’s experience of access to mental health services, who lives on the same village street, is likely to bring the topic closer than if it were an unknown Tiina from the other side of Finland.
One day, kindergarten children start school and the next, they enter the world of work. But the importance of media education and media literacy does not disappear when children grow up. Quite the opposite: in today’s information society marked by polarization and attempts to mislead, responsible journalism and its recognition play an increasingly important role.
Maintaining media literacy does not stop at the end of compulsory education, but should be part of lifelong learning. There is no magic trick to achieve media literacy, but picking up a local newspaper is a good way to start.
Board member of Vikes
Eveliina Kälviäinen
