I totally support Tim's aspirations for the charter for media literacy being a starting point. We had a lively and useful debate in my group discussing definitions of media literacy - and concluded that all of the 'old' style definitions of empowering people to critically analyse, understand and produce media communications still had currency but that more debate/thought/time and space is needed to explore how the interactive/participatory aspects of new media work within the definition laid out by Ofcom - where media literacy is defined as aiming for all to have access to the media (the technology), to understand the media (how they are produced, created, by whom, for whom and to what effect on individuals and society as a whole etc) and to be able to produce/create (and do we now need to add 'participate  or engage/interact with) media messages. Issues surrounding who precisely was setting the media literacy agenda were raised as was the importance of acknowledging the European and indeed global nature of the media now.

An excellent thought provoking event which must be just the start of a longer debate with at least one aim being to ensure all teachers become media literate as a compulsory part of thier training. 

At the National Media Museum in Bradford, West Yorkshire, we strive to reach people of all ages - offering young (Youth Media TV workshops with socially and educationally disadvantaged young people - funded by the Football Foundation) and old (still and moving image based reminiscence sessions that have evolved from the original BBC People's War project) alike the opportunity to produce, to understand and to become more familar with the media we encounter daily. To that end we are currently developing a new gallery on the Internet and all that that 'means'.

Any suggestions, expressions of interest (and support!) most gratefully received on any of the above.

Sarah Mumford Learning Manager National Media Museum Bradford BD1 1NQ Web: www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk

Hello Sarah

I just wanted to clarify that the aspiration expressed in the video is from Ewan McIntosh rather than myself (I just held the camera and asked the questions...) 

Although I would, had I been the other side of the camera, have quite likely echod a lot of what Ewan said about the charter.

I enjoyed your presentation Ewan. I was struck by the gap to be bridged between viewers and creators of video.

Jon Gisby showed a slide with a quote by Peter Chernin, News Corp., saying that "Right now there are more than 300 million people around the world watching video content online. It's a fundamental shift that completely democratises our business."

Yes, democracy can be served by absorbing content but it's _participation_ is what makes the democracy vibrant ... and that isn't happening yet because, as you showed on your slide from the Guardian in May 2007, only 0.16% of YouTube users _upload_ to YouTube

I'd be glad to hear of ideas of how to increase participation. 

Gareth Morlais www.aberth.com/blog/

Thank you Tim - is it poss to edit my comment?

Apologies to Ewan for getting confused about who was who! 

Sarah Mumford Learning Manager National Media Museum Bradford BD1 1NQ Web: www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk