Page 10 - B-iikm-21

Message from the UNESCO Programme Specialist

Bangladesh

Alton Grizzle
UNESCO Programme Specialist in Media and
Information Literacy

Human beings are innately resilient in many ways. This is especially so when they are armed with the right
information and equipped with the competencies to enable critical thinking and discernment. UNESCO calls
these competencies media and information literacy. An evidence of human resilience is the numerous
technological tools that have been developed to solve a myriad of social issues. Technology creates

opportunities such as access to information and freedom of expression for many who would otherwise be
deprived. Yet we can never forget the transformative place of libraries as bastions to the search for truth
towards the top. Some of the world’s best librarians and information scientists, together with technology
experts, form the backbone of the internet we know and depend on so much today.

For the first time in recent history, people of the world have retreated from each other because of the COVID-
19 pandemic. Social life as we know it has been transformed, at least for now. New technologies and

traditional media have kept us connected. Social media and social life through technology and media, though
recognised for decades, have magnified a thousand folds. To say it another way, our individual and collective
online presence as well as more frequent use of traditional media becomes inevitable. As the world slowly
looks to and hopes for normal social interaction, what information, digital technology, and media
competencies (Media and Information Literacy) do they need to maximize on the benefits of their online

presence beyond the coronavirus crisis and the increasing disinfodemic? What are some of the research
and policy implications for MIL expansion into institutions, groups and media and information literacy
(MIL) for all? How are libraries and librarians responding? Responses to these questions form part of
UNESCO’s thrust to advance MIL for everyone and by everyone.

Kudos go out to the Department of Information Studies and Library Management for playing their role

promoting MIL for all. The UNESCO appreciates Media and Information Literacy initiatives of the East West
University (EWU), Dhaka, Bangladesh. EWU initiatives should be expanded through connectivity (social,
informational, and technological) and collaboration, which are indispensable to sustainable development of
the information ecology. I send my greetings to the DISLM and the EWU for being an active partner to the

2020 Global MIL Week.

*The statements are written in part in my role as Programme Specialist in Media and Information Literacy UNESCO. These are
not necessarily the opinion of UNESCO our in anyway bind the organization.

10