This guideline summarizes the experience of Ukrainian media regarding how to effectively apply and communicate the principles of Media and Information Literacy (MIL) in practice. Its target audience is media organizations as a whole, covering the entire scope of their operations. The guideline provides recommendations for newsroom personnel as well as for those involved in extended functions such as educational programs and community outreach, reflecting the comprehensive nature of modern media work.

The guide focuses on MIL practices within the context of three key areas:

• Editorial Management – how media leadership can support thedevelopment and upskilling of its staff in the field of media and information literacy.
• Content Creation – how media professionals can apply media and information literacy competencies in their daily work.
• Audience Engagement – how media can help strengthen society’s resilience to information threats.

The Ukrainian experience is particularly exceptional and valuable because it demonstrates how MIL is both a defensive and empowering tool in times of war. Ukrainian newsrooms and media workers have faced unprecedented challenges since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, from massive disinformation campaigns and psychological operations to direct threats against journalists and media infrastructure (See: Under the Pressure of War: Challenges and Needs of Media in Ukraine. Research Results), and even kidnapping and murder of media workers. In response, journalists and newsrooms have developed innovative, adaptive MIL practices that strengthen verification processes, enhance newsroom resilience and the safety of journalists, as well as deepen public understanding of how information is produced and manipulated. Nevertheless, the approaches and lessons compiled in this document go beyond the Ukrainian context: they offer a practical framework for media organizations worldwide seeking to protect information integrity, reinforce audience trust, and promote critical engagement in complex and volatile information environments. As such, this guideline can serve as a key reference for media practitioners regionally and globally, demonstrating how MIL can be effectively integrated into editorial management, content creation, and audience engagement even under extreme conditions.

You can read or download guideline via link.

“Practical Guideline for Implementing Media and Information Literacy” is developed by the Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law within the project “Enhancing Media and Information Literacy (MIL) and AI Literacy for Resilience in Ukraine”, in partnership with UNESCO and supported by Japan. The choice and presentation of facts in this publication is the responsibility of the authors. The views expressed herein belong solely to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of UNESCO or Japan.