Media literacy has never been more essential, and the people who teach, research, and practice it are the quiet heroes of our information age. In an environment shaped by viral falsehoods, algorithmic echo chambers, and the dizzying pace of digital change, helping people think critically about what they see, hear, and share is no longer a nice-to-have—it is a fundamental civic skill. That is why the European Digital Media Observatory, better known as EDMO, has opened a call for submissions to support the ongoing development of its Guidelines for Effective Media Literacy Initiatives. This is not a top-down exercise, nor is it a distant academic project. It is an open, collaborative invitation to the entire European media literacy community to help shape a document that can guide practice, inspire new approaches, and strengthen the field as a whole. The Guidelines, organized around a set of twelve core principles, are meant to be a living resource—something that grows, evolves, and improves with each new insight, example, and reflection from the people doing this work on the ground. By asking for contributions from across the continent, EDMO is signaling that effective media literacy is not something that can be defined in isolation. It must be built together, by educators, researchers, practitioners, organisations, networks, and institutions who understand the realities, challenges, and opportunities of their own communities.
If you are one of those people—or if you know you should be—then this call is very much for you. EDMO is looking for contributions from organisations, networks, educators, researchers, practitioners, and institutions across Europe, and the invitation is deliberately broad. You do not have to be a giant international organisation or a well-known university to take part. You do not need to have a sophisticated public relations machine or a portfolio of glittering awards. If you have ever run a workshop in a local library, developed a classroom resource, led a community campaign, trained youth workers, or researched how people engage with online information, your perspective is exactly the kind of insight EDMO needs. The call is intentionally inclusive, and that inclusiveness reflects a deeper belief: media literacy is not a discipline that belongs to any single profession or sector. It is a shared responsibility, and the people who carry it out are as diverse as the publics they serve. By opening the process to a wide range of contributors, EDMO hopes to capture not only the official policies and polished programmes, but also the practical wisdom that emerges from day-to-day work in schools, civil society groups, cultural institutions, and local communities. This is an invitation to bring your experience to a European table, to share what you have learned, and to help build a more resilient, thoughtful, and informed continent.
There are three distinct ways to participate in this call, and each one recognizes that different people and organisations have different capacities and preferences. The first is to submit a good practice or resource that demonstrates one or more of the twelve EDMO Principles. This could be a project you have designed, a method you have tested, a campaign you have run, or a tool you have developed—anything that shows what effective media literacy looks like in practice. The second way is to endorse the Guidelines on behalf of your organisation. This is a lighter but still meaningful form of participation, a way of saying publicly that you support the principles and values embedded in the document, and that you are willing to be associated with them. The third way is to suggest improvements for future revisions. No guideline is ever perfect, and EDMO understands that the field of media literacy is constantly shifting. Perhaps you see a gap, a blind spot, or a principle that needs to be reworded, expanded, or rethought. Perhaps you know of an emerging challenge, such as generative artificial intelligence, deepfakes, or platform design, that deserves more attention. Your feedback can help ensure that the Guidelines remain relevant, responsive, and genuinely useful. Whether you come to contribute, endorse, or critique, you are helping to shape a resource that will serve as a reference point for media literacy across Europe in the years to come.
The range of contributions that are welcome is intentionally wide, and this is one of the most encouraging aspects of the call. Contributions may take the form of educational initiatives, public awareness campaigns, toolkits, frameworks, training programmes, community projects, or any other resource that helps people develop the skills and confidence to navigate today’s complex media environment. You might have created a video series for teenagers, a mobile app for first-time voters, a curriculum for adult learners, a handbook for librarians, a curriculum for primary schools, or a local project that brings older and younger generations together to discuss news and misinformation. Whatever it is, if it connects to the principles and helps to advance media literacy, EDMO wants to see it. Importantly, submissions do not need to be large-scale or international to be considered. A hyper-local workshop run by a small nonprofit in a single town can be just as valuable as a pan-European consortium project, sometimes more so, because it may contain seeds of innovation and authenticity that larger efforts often miss. By lowering the barriers to participation, EDMO is making a powerful statement about what counts as expertise. Expertise is not only found in academic journals or high-level strategy documents; it is also found in the careful, creative, patient work of people who are reaching learners in their own languages, cultures, and contexts. Every successful attempt to help someone become more critical, curious, and responsible online is a contribution to the common good.
There are real, tangible benefits to participating, beyond the intrinsic satisfaction of helping to shape something important. Selected examples may be featured as good practices in the Guidelines, included as references in the document, or used to inform future editions. That means your work could become part of a European reference point that other educators, researchers, and institutions look to for guidance, inspiration, and evidence. It also means your organisation will gain visibility with a European audience of media literacy experts and practitioners, which can open doors to new collaborations, partnerships, and opportunities. Being listed as a contributor or good practice in such a guideline is a mark of credibility and recognition that can strengthen your own future funding applications, public engagements, or outreach efforts. Some contributors may also be invited to take part in a short online showcase session as part of the review process. This is not a heavy burden—just a brief, friendly opportunity to talk about your work, answer questions, and connect with others in the field. The review process itself is designed to be straightforward and transparent: submissions will be reviewed primarily on the information provided in the submission form. There is no complicated bureaucracy, no endless documentation, no need to produce additional evidence unless specifically requested. What matters is that you share your experience honestly and clearly, and that your submission reflects the principles in some meaningful way.
So, as the deadline approaches, consider this a personal invitation to step forward. The call will close on Friday 30 October, and all interested organisations and individuals are encouraged to submit their contribution through the online form. If you have ever felt that your work was too small, too local, or too unusual to be of interest to a European initiative, set that doubt aside. The world of media literacy is built from countless small acts of attention and care, and the Guidelines are meant to celebrate that diversity rather than smooth it away. Your story, your insights, your successes, and even your honest suggestions for improvement can help make this resource richer, more practical, and more inclusive. EDMO is not looking for perfect, polished, or flawless submissions; it is looking for real experiences, genuine reflections, and useful resources from the people who know what it means to foster critical thinking in a digital age. By taking the time to answer a few questions, reflect on your work, and share it with a wider community, you are playing an active role in shaping how media literacy is understood and practiced across Europe. And in a time when information itself is so contested, that is an act of real significance. The guidelines will be stronger because of you, and the community of practice will be better connected because of the conversations you help start. So do not wait. Gather your thoughts, describe your project, endorse the principles, or offer your suggestions, and make sure your voice is part of the picture before the summer turns to autumn and the call closes at the end of October. The invitation is open, the process is simple, and the potential impact is enormous. All that is missing is you.