Home⇛PCS Review⇛vol. 16 no. 1 (2024)

A Communicative Constitution Perspective on Advocacy: A Case of Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Advocates in the Philippines

Irish Jane L. Talusan | Yhna Therese P. Santos

Discipline: media studies

 

Abstract:

Media and information literacy (MIL) initiatives in the Philippines come from various stakeholders, with each organization designing and implementing programs aligned with varying perspectives. This study investigates these different Philippine-based MIL advocacy groups, their initiatives and programs, and the complexities they experience in conducting their operations. Guided by UNESCO’s Global Framework for Media and Information Literacy Cities (MIL Cities) and McPhee and Zaug’s Communicative Constitution of Organizations to understand existing advocacies and examine perceived complexities, this research utilized interviews to describe and explore the topic at hand. A total of 15 informants from different MIL advocacy organizations and backgrounds participated in this study. Most of these organizations were formed based on a shared set of expertise and understanding of MIL, with a common belief that MIL is necessary for empowerment and critical thinking. However, differences emerged in the nature of the initiatives and their target audience. Furthermore, the nature of these MIL initiatives offered was seen to be primarily based on the strengths of the group: gamified instructional programs and learning resources from the members of the academe, to name a few. Due to the differences of these programs, it was stressed that collaboration is key, but that challenges may also inadvertently arise from said collaborative attempts. These challenges include technological barriers and financial constraints. Challenges aligned with attempts to connect with beneficiaries were also identified. Despite of these challenges, it remains clear that MIL advocacies are important, especially considering the current media and information landscape. For these initiatives to be successful, a multidisciplinary approach is necessary.



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