The Lords Select Committee for Communications and Digital has launched a vital inquiry into the state of media literacy in the UK, with a call for evidence that asks:
- What does media literacy mean in today’s world?
- Who benefits from current initiatives?
- And how should responsibility be shared between government, regulators, education providers, tech companies and civil society?
At Decentered Media, we believe these questions cannot be answered without a radical rethink of what media literacy is for. Is it simply about protecting individuals from harm and helping them distinguish real from fake? Or is it about enabling people to participate meaningfully in civic, cultural and democratic life—especially at a local level?
The Committee’s inquiry rightly raises key areas for reflection:
- How we define media literacy, and what outcomes we should be working towards as a society.
- The effectiveness of current government and regulatory strategies, such as Ofcom’s work and the broader Media Literacy Strategy.
- The roles and responsibilities of tech platforms, educational institutions, and community organisations in delivering media literacy.
- The future of media literacy in light of emerging technologies and AI-driven media systems.
- What international models can teach us, and whether we are adequately addressing digital exclusion and regional inequalities.
These are not abstract questions. They go to the heart of how people relate to media in their everyday lives. Yet they are often explored through the lens of institutional media, assuming a model in which people are audiences to be protected or educated.
At Decentered Media, we start from a different premise: that media literacy must support people not just to interpret the media they consume, but to become communicators themselves, embedded in their communities, with the capacity to care for their neighbourhoods, families, and local institutions—not simply about distant issues defined by others.
We advocate for:
- Community media literacies that are participatory, enabling individuals and groups to share knowledge, express values, and make decisions collaboratively.
- Decentered approaches that prioritise relational and dialogue-based communication over broadcasting and messaging.
- Foundational economy-aligned media practices, recognising that most people’s lives are grounded in essential services—care, education, housing, transport—and that media literacy must support those working and living within these vital infrastructures.
As the Committee explores how media literacy strategies should evolve over the next five years, we must ensure that DIY, civic, and community-focussed communication models are not ignored. These models are often hyper-relevant at the local level but are too frequently marginalised in favour of large-scale, corporate or institutional media frameworks.
We urge:
- Greater recognition of media literacy as a capability, one that can be nurtured through place-based learning, peer support, and participatory production.
- A rebalancing of media policy to support voice, access and accountability within communities, particularly those underserved by commercial or national media.
- Integration of community media principles—like trust-building, co-production, asset-based development, and facilitated dialogue—into national literacy strategies.
- Development of inclusive metrics and feedback systems that measure the social value and democratic participation enabled by local and community media—not just media ‘competence’ in a technical sense.
To support this reframing, we encourage individuals and organisations working in community development, education, care, local democracy, and grassroots media to submit evidence to the Committee. Let’s ensure they hear from the margins as well as the centre.
Join the Conversation
Decentered Media hosts a weekly online discussion group, every Thursday at 4pm (UK time), where we explore themes of communications, identity, participation and social renewal.
Subscribe via Patreon to take part, contribute, and access our community knowledge resources. This is a moment to shift the conversation—from a narrow focus on media consumption and protection, to a more expansive, empowering vision of media as a tool for caring, connecting and co-creating.