What and Why: Media Literacy

The National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) aims to make media literacy highly valued and widely practiced as an essential life skill. In a mediated world, all people are consumers and creators who deserve guidance on how to cultivate mindful, empowering relationships with media. 

NAMLE views media literacy—the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act using all forms of communication—as an essential 21st-century literacy. Media literacy education is the ongoing development of habits of inquiry and skills of expression necessary for people to be critical thinkers, thoughtful and effective communicators, and informed and responsible members of society. Developing these habits and skills is vital to civic life.

The Core Principles below articulate NAMLE’s position on media literacy education and illuminate the complex dynamics between individuals, media, and the systems and structures that shape our world. The additional Implications for Practice, which are available to view under each principle, highlight distinguishing features of effective media literacy education. NAMLE’s intent is these Core Principles and Implications for Practice build greater awareness and help scale media literacy education in all facets of life in the U.S.