Media literacy: no longer the shrinking violet of European audiovisual media regulation?

The lead article in this IRIS plus provides a critical analysis of how the European audiovisual regulatory and policy framework seeks to promote media literacy. It examines pertinent definitional issues and explores the main rationales for the promotion of media literacy as a regulatory and policy goal, paying particular attention to the specific interests of selected target groups and stake-holders. It then considers the extent to which those definitions, rationales and interests are reflected in relevant regulatory and policy instruments adopted by the European Union and the Council of Europe. The article concludes with a tentative prognosis for the future promotion of media literacy as a regulatory and policy goal for the European audiovisual sector.