Site of the Week Archive:
Great links to 4+ years of
media literacy education-related Sites of the Week

Multi-national Media Education Websites
(Jump down to alphabetical A-Z list of media education websites by country

European Charter for Media Literacy "exists to support the establishment of media literacy across Europe. By signing the Charter, organisations and individuals endorse a specific definition of media literacy, and commit to actions that will contribute to its development. The Charter thus facilitates consensus and networking amongst those working for media literacy in different countries across Europe. This website holds a database of Charter signatories, which can be searched by country, media sector and education sector. The Charter is also available in other languages."

International Women's Media Foundation The IWMF's mission is to strengthen the role of women in the news media around the world, based on the belief that no press is truly free unless women share an equal voice.

MAGIC: Media Activities and Good Ideas by, with and for Children. This extraordinary international website, part of UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund), shows how far America has to go in understanding and dealing with media issues around children. It's described as " UNICEF's response to the Oslo Challenge of 1999, which called on media professionals, educators, governments, organizations, parents, children and young people themselves to recognize the enormous potential of media to make the world a better place for children." Click on material for children, parents, teachers, governments, media, the private sector; a database of media projects by, with and for children; a discussion group, and much more.

MediaEducation.net, a consortium of European media educators with funding from the European Commission. Sponsors a yearly course for teachers from Europe, short online videos on media education, downloadable publications and more.

The UNESCO International Clearinghouse on Children and Violence on the Screen "The overall point of departure for the Clearinghouse's efforts with respect to children and media violence is the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The aim of the Clearinghouse is to increase awareness and knowledge about children and media violence, not least in view of the newer channels of communication such as satellite television and Internet, thereby providing a basis for relevant policy-making and contributing to a constructive public debate. Another goal is to point out initiatives aiming to enhance children's competence as users of the media. Moreover, it is hoped that the Clearinghouse's work will stimulate further research on children and the media."

Australia

Australian Centre for the Moving Image "celebrates, champions and explores the moving image in all its forms - film, television, games, new media and art. Through a diverse and engaging annual calendar of award winning major exhibitions, film programs, live events, creative workshops, education programs, community activities and lending services, ACMI brings the best of moving image culture from across the globe to Australian audiences."

Australian Children's Television Foundation The ACTF is" national non-profit organization that creates innovative, entertaining and educational television programs for children. The ACTF believes that entertaining media can be an effective teaching and learning tool." The website has extensive lesson plans and other teaching resources based on their programs. ACTF also has created the "educational multi-media construction tool-set Kahootz to be used in schools by primary and secondary students across a range of key learning areas. The tool-set gives children the power to create complex narratives, puzzles and presentations in a three dimensional world. Teacher tools and classroom examples of what can be achieved with Kahootz can be found at the Kahootz website."

Australian Teachers Of Media   ATOM VIC is an independent, non-profit, professional association promoting the study of Media and supporting Media teachers.

Australian Teachers of Media, Queensland, Inc.(ATOM Qld) advocates for media education in Queensland by providing professional development opportunities for teachers; advising education authorities on policy and curriculum development; and providing students with opportunities to engage critically with the media. ATOM Qld has a Facebook group that enables members to share resources, curriculum ideas and student work, including videos.

Movie ratings under the Australian ratings system

Canada

Alberta Association for Media Awareness

Association for Media Literacy is an outstanding organization for educators "dedicated to promoting media education as a means of understanding the influence of the media, and the impact of rapidly evolving technology, on our culture." The website provide visitors with access to "a range of resources and an amazing community of people interested and involved in media education and literacy....On this site you will find articles and reviews, resources for teachers and news about upcoming events, conferences and initiatives being undertaken by the AML.  We will also provide you with a connection to media education initiatives around the world through our association with national and international organizations."

Canadian Association of Media Education Organizations (CAMEO)

Jesuit Communication Project (JCP) provides "a variety of resources and services for teachers, parents, church groups, school boards, students, and other interested groups. The goal is to encourage, promote, and develop Media Education across Canada."

Media Awareness Network An outstanding website (in both English and French). "The Media Awareness Network offers practical support for media education in the home, school and community and provides Canadians and others with information and 'food for thought' on our fast-evolving media culture." Recommended: the newsletter from renowned media educator Barry Duncan. "Barry's Bulletin" on media education resources is available from www. media-awareness.ca Type in Barry in the search box for current and archived Bulletins.

Ontario Media Literacy Homepage

England (see United Kingdom)

France

Center de Liaison de L'Enseignement et des Moyens d'Information (CLEMI)

Germany

GMK (Media Education)

IFAK Institut fura ngewandte Kindermedienforschung

JFF (Media Education) Institut für Medienpädagogik in Forschung und Praxis

MPFS Medienpädagogischer Forschungsverbund Südwest

Great Britain (see United Kingdom)

Hungary

Hungarian Moving Image and Media Education Association This site "has been developed to help students and teachers deal with media work in classrooms and to prove an opportunity for communication. In this English version, we provide you some information on Media Education in the Hungarian National Curriculum." 

India

Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI) An association which aims to provide a forum for women in media professions to share information and resources, exchange ideas, promote media awareness and ethics, and work for gender equality and justice within the Indian media and society.

Italy

Associazione italianna per l'educazione ai media e alla comunicazione

New Zealand

Movie ratings under the New Zealand ratings system.

Nigeria

Youth Media & Communication Initiative (YMCI) is actively engaged in developing the involvement of children and youth in the media. It equips children and youth with media and communication skills on child rights, gender, HIV/AIDS, environment, democracy and development.

Portugal

Media Education in Castelo Branco region of Portugal

Russia

Russian Association for Film & Media Education (Media Education in Russia). An excellent site maintained by professor Dr. Alexander Fedorov, president of Russian Association for Film & Media Education.

For many English-language Microsoft Word documents on the topic of Media Education and Media Literacy in Russia, including :

• Media Education in Russia: Current Stage
• Media Education and Media Literacy: Experts' Opinions

• Russian Teachers' Attitudes to the Problem of Media Education of Pupils and University Students

• Curriculums on Media Education in Russian Universities: Comparative Analysis
• Media Education in Secondary Schools in Russia

Media Review has some of the same articles as above, plus another entitled "Violence on the Russian & American Media Screen and Youth Audience."

Research Group “School Media Library”

Spain

Grupo Comunicar

Sweden

Nordic Information Center for Media and Communication Research (NORDICOM) "Housed at GÖTEBORG UNIVERSITY, NORDICOM's overriding goal is to make the media and communication research efforts undertaken in the Nordic countries - Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden - known. Nordicom also documents media trends in the Nordic Countries. The production of media statistics forms the core of this service. Nordicom operates the International Clearinghouse on Children, Youth & Media.

United Kingdom

British Film Institute

Centre for the Study of Children, Youth and Media is based at the Institute of Education, University of London.

Digital Media Education Centre aims to "provide a range of services which use digital technology to release the creativity of teachers and pupils alike."

MediaEd: the UK Media Education Website . One of the top three media education sites in the English language. Excellent material and links.

MediaKnowAll: A Web Guide for Media Students. References to the acronyms of specific British curricula can look confusing, but just click a little and you'll find great material. For example, choose "GCSE," then pick any one of the topic areas in the drop-down menu of GCSE Topics, such as Advertising, Genre, Narratives, Representation, TV News, and more.

Movie ratings under the U.K rating system

Thank you to Prof. Dr. Alexander Fedorov of the Taganrog State Pedagogical Institute (Russia) for most of the links on this page