Digital storytelling skills help students engage in media literate conversations with audiences

Media Literacy provides a framework to access, analyze, evaluate, create and participate with messages in a variety of forms. From print to video to the Internet, media literacy builds an understanding of the role of media in society as well as essential skills of inquiry and self-expression necessary for citizens of a democracy.

One essential skill of inquiry is that of digital storytelling. Young journalists can engage and collaborate actively with audiences by learning these digital storytelling skills, said Paul Mihailidis, an assistant professor of media literacy and interactive media in the school of communication at Emerson College in Boston, MA.

“This includes, first and foremost, curation, which I understand as the ability to sift, sort and organize a diverse array of information,” he said.

Mihailidis said he thinks journalists need to think of storytelling as more expansive and dialogic than as a linear, singular narrative.

“This means understanding how to participate in online dialogue, engage in networked communities, and help to facilitate community voices that are more representative,” he said.

Mihailidis is also the Associate Director of the Engagement Lab at Emerson College and the Director of the Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change. Much of his research focuses on the nexus of media, education and civic voices. Mihailidis has authored many books and papers that explore media education and citizenship.

Mihailidis said there are some barriers to civic activism for young people in today’s society.

“The barriers are some of the common ones that we have seen historically, like general detachment from civic issues, and lack of perceived avenues to participate in civic life,” he said

Mihailidis believes technology and education can really help young people reimagine civic engagement in local and global contexts.

“There’s been research separating civic duties from civic actions, and I think our K-12 system is stuck in teaching and thinking about civic engagement as a duty (vote, pay taxes, jury duty, etc.), where really, young people can engage in civic life by joining online groups, sharing information, engaging in petitions, connecting to other concerned citizens,” he said.

Indeed, Mihailidis believes that it’s a very exciting time for journalism.

“It’s up to schools to lead the way in empowering youth to create the future for a vibrant journalism space, that’s at the core of 21st Century democracy,” he said.

For more information on media literacy and Mihailidis’ work, check out his website.