Integration of Media Literacy Teaching Practices in Secondary and Higher Education Schools in Bulgaria

Media literacy is one of the key competencies and skills for living and working in the 21st century. According to experts, media literacy and media education are part of the solution to the newest social and technological problems facing humanity. Media literacy education is a lifelong education, but it is particularly important to start at an early age, to be continued and upgraded in secondary and higher education with the efforts of all formal and non-formal institutions and organizations. The aim of the “Integration of media literacy teaching practices in secondary and higher schools in Bulgaria” research project, which a team from the Department of Media and Public Communications at UNWE is working on during the 2019-2022 period, is to focus on the results of media education on an international, European and national scale. The study presents the first of its kind in Bulgarian scientific literature analytical review of the definitions of media literacy of foreign and Bulgarian experts and organizations, leading policies and strategies of international organizations working in the field of media education, national practices of many European and other countries. The results achieved in the field of secondary and higher education in our country have been thoroughly studied and the deficits in formal and non-formal education in this field have been highlighted. Within the research project, a survey was conducted with 534 teachers on the problems of media literacy in Bulgaria and in-depth interviews with experts in the field. Based on the research, the team proves the importance of media literacy for modern society and the need for active government policy for its development in Bulgaria.