Digital Literacy Crucial for UK's Global Competitiveness

Digital Literacy Crucial for UK's Global Competitiveness

BRISTOL, England, July 14/PRNewswire/ --

- Greater Understanding of Digital Literacy is Essential for Young People
and Their Future job Prospects According to Virtual Voices Conference

The topic of media literacy was discussed last week at Virtual Voices, an
event which brought together young people, educators, policymakers and media
figures. After a series of debates and workshops all 100% of delegates agreed
when polled that understanding media literacy is vital for future success and
that the government should do more to support media literacy to help Britain
remain competitive.

Resources from the event including photographs, podcasts and supporting
material are all now available online at
http://www.swscreen.co.uk/virtualvoices

The key conclusions from the event were:

- Media industry and education need to work closer together to
ensure that young people have a voice
- Both industry and education want the same thing: a democracy
where everyone has a voice and where talent has a chance to shine.
- We must help young people learn how to decipher what information
on the web is real, what is a myth or reality, as well as how to
communicate online
- Teachers and the government have a vital role to play in teaching
media literacy skills, or Britain's competitive position will be at
risk
- Online media presents great opportunities for young people to
have their say
- Young people are producing some exceptional issues-based work and
we need to find ways to bring this into the mainstream

Iain Dale, one of Britain's leading online political activists and the
keynote speaker at Virtual Voices discussed the opportunities the internet
presents for participation in debate.

Iain said:

"There has never been more of an opportunity for young people to get
involved with decision making through media. It is possible to influence
opinion, organise campaigns and comment on any view that seems biased in a
way that has never been possible before. Developing skills in media literacy
is essential not only for those young people who want to work in the
industry, but for anybody who wants to understand the world around them and
have their say on it. Today everyone has a voice."

Two media industry expert panels - one on news and one on emerging
platforms in film and TV - provided teachers who attended the event with
plenty of food for thought and practical tools for the classroom.

John Freeman, teacher at special media arts college, Frome Community
College commented:

"The event has impressed to a wider audience how important media literacy
is if people are going to engage with the modern world as an audience or as a
producer,"

Young people also found the event useful and informative:

"I didn't know why I was putting stuff on Youtube before - it was just
something I did. Now I understand it's a great way to get noticed and get on
in the industry." Young Filmmaker, Sarah Cassey

"All in all Virtual Voices was a great experience, I felt welcomed and
listened to, I learnt a lot and I made useful contacts. To end with a
showcase of young people's work was very inspiring. The issue-based films
were great eye-openers for narrow minded people." Young filmmaker, Paige
Copsey

Caroline Norbury, Chief Executive of South West Screen said:

"Through Virtual Voices we wanted to look at how we create the right
conditions for the public to participate in today's media-rich world. In
particular how we encourage and support young people to have their say and
take more ownership in shaping the decisions that affect their lives. We
believe that the best way is by helping people to make media themselves,
encouraging participation through the web and other platforms in on-going
debates and giving them the skills to make their own voices heard."

Virtual Voices took place on 10th July in Bristol. It was organised by
South West Screen, the development agency for the creative media industries
in the South West of England.

The day included a screening of work produced by young people, the films
of which will be online on Tuesday 15th July at
http://www.youtube.com/southwestscreen

Photographs from the day are available on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26168982@N02/sets/72157606103286590/

A podcast of the introduction and keynote speech from the day is at
http://www.swscreen.co.uk/podcast. The panel discussions are also to be
uploaded shortly.

For more information, please visit
http://www.swscreen.co.uk/virtualvoices

For more information about Watershed, please visit
http://www.watershed.co.uk

Virtual Voices is presented by South West Screen, the development agency
for the creative media industries in the South West, in partnership with RiO
(the Real Ideas Organisation).

About South West Screen

South West Screen is the development agency for the creative media
industries in the South West of England. South West Screen is funded by the
UK Film Council and the South West of England Regional Development Agency.
For further information please visit http://www.swscreen.co.uk

About RiO

RiO (Real Ideas Organisation) is an ethically-based social enterprise
focusing on children, young people, communities, creativity and change. We
work with children, young people, teachers and creative professionals to
actively encourage them to take decisions and lead their learning and make
real change happen. We believe in harnessing the energy, enthusiasm and
creative abilities of young people and we're currently working with
youngsters across the country on a range of ambitious and challenging
programmes. For more information please visit http://www.realideas.org

Supporters

LSC

UK Film Council

Futurelab

Information for editors:
Contact:
South West Screen Press Office
Waggener Edstrom Worldwide
Tel: +44(0)20-7632-3800
shemsworth@waggeneredstrom.com
lsutton@waggeneredstrom.com

Source: South West Screen

Information for editors: Contact: South West Screen Press Office, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, Tel: +44(0)20-7632-3800, shemsworth@waggeneredstrom.com, lsutton@waggeneredstrom.com

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