Media literacy, the coalition government, and Jeremy Hunt

For many who had worked for years in the field of media literacy, it seemed a triumph that the 2003 Communications Act required Ofcom to promote media literacy. It had become clear that in a fast changing world where media matters more than ever, users no longer rely on gatekeepers, and there is an urgent need to skill up. Immediately, a debate was sparked – what is media literacy, how can it be promoted, how can it be measured, and what is the value of media literacy? But, since the Coalition Government came to power last year, it seems that everything has gone quiet. For our answers to these questions, see the dossier on media literacy and the Communications Act, 2003.