Flirt FM and the Community Radio Ireland network of stations are part of the Be Media Smart campaign, in which organisations across Ireland are encouraging people to ‘Stop, Think, Check’ the information they encounter on a daily basis. 

The campaign, currently running on TV, radio and in news publications across community, commercial, public service and social media – in Irish and English, aims to raise awareness of the importance of knowing how to verify information; provide tips and guidance on how to check the accuracy and reliability of information, and signpost people to additional sources of support and training. 

Launching on the 24th of October to mark UNESCO’s Global Media and information Literacy Week, the Be Media Smart campaign will run until the end of November. 

The Be Media Smart campaign is an initiative of Media Literacy Ireland (MLI) and is supported by a wide range of members including media, civil society organisations, libraries, educational, training and research institutions. The new media regulator and media development agency, Coimisiún na Meán, facilitates the work of MLI. 

Media literacy is an essential life skill for everyone to be able to successfully navigate the modern world in which we live. Promotion of media literacy is a priority for Coimisiún na Meán. We are proud to work with Media Literacy Ireland and support the ‘Be Media Smart’ campaign, which aims to help people to critically assess media content and reduce the impact of misinformation and disinformation.

Rónán Ó Domhnaill, Media Development Commissioner (and former Flirt FM volunteer)

A key part of this year’s campaign is the new Be Media Smart Community Training Programme. Developed in conjunction with EDMO Ireland, it will run across the months of October and November. This new programme is expected to train and upskill over 100 community-based leaders, coaches, and librarians to deliver the Be Media Smart workshops in their own communities across the country, in English and in Irish. 

The importance of media literacy is widely recognised, but there is a shortage of people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to deliver media literacy within communities. EDMO Ireland was delighted to facilitate the roll-out of new training workshops that bring media literacy to people of all ages and backgrounds

Dr. Eileen Culloty, EDMO Ireland at Dublin City University

The Be Media Smart website, available in Irish and English, includes an updated FactCheck section and a new ‘Ask an Expert’ section, where members of the public can put media literacy related questions to a panel of experts. 

Now more than ever, it so important for people to have confidence in the information that they encounter on a daily basis. The ‘Be Media Smart’ campaign gives people tips and advice on how to Stop, Think, and Check the accuracy and reliability of information. We are privileged to have some of the leading experts in media literacy in Ireland on our ‘Ask an Expert’ panel – from academics, to journalists, to people who specialise in internet safety for children and young people.

Martina Chapman, National Co-Ordinator of Media Literacy Ireland

Visit www.bemediasmart.ie for further information.