With the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic spawning a phase in what a March 5, 2020 article by Emma Charlton – for the World Economic Forum, referred to as the “infodemic of misinformation surrounding the coronavirus”, concerted efforts are being made to sanitise the media space with accurate and appropriate information, to give hope to a traumatised world. Media and Information Literacy coalitions are playing critical roles in raising awareness of the need for facts and use of information and communication for the common good.
The Association of Communication Scholars & Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), is therefore pleased to announce the adoption globally, of the materials we developed under the “Media & Information Literacy Non-Curricular Activities in Sierra-Leone” Project, for The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
The materials which Alton Grizzle, Programme Specialist, Media, Development and Society Section, Communication and Information Sector, UNESCO headquarters, Paris, described as “innovative resources”, are now available on the UNESDOC Digital Library, and have now been shared with UNESCO Regional Offices in all the continents of the world, for translation to local languages, and adoption and use as inspiration in the development of other local resources. The materials are also being promoted on MIL CLICKS, and would soon be available on the ACSPN website, which would also have the English and Pidgin animation. The print production of these materials and the games are already in use in different geo-political zones of Nigeria, through MIL Clubs and in various institutions and stakeholders.
The uniqueness of the materials, is their adaptability in the development of materials on any subject (including the current pandemic), where misinformation, disinformation, and other variants of information and communication manipulation are prevalent, or have the potential to complicate issues of local and international development.
Please feel free to access the resources through the following links:
1) Media and Information Literacy Storybook: Sikito Has A Good Day
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/
2) Media and Information Literacy Card Game
https://unesdoc.
3) Media and Information Literacy Fun Game
https://unesdoc.unesco.
4) Non-Formal Education Guideline of Media and Information Literacy Curriculum
https://unesdoc.
ACSPN is delighted about these developments, and is ever more committed to collaborate with local and international stakeholders on milestones, in the holistic reengineering of communication and media spaces in Nigeria, continentally and globally.
You can access more information on ACSPN, its activities and how to become a member on our website www.acspn.com.ng
ACSPN continues to be focused on even more strategic contributions, in a world plagued by paradoxes, and in search of solutions.
