The UNESCO Chair of Communication, Media and Information Literacy and Citizenship (ESCS-UPL/LIACOM), Fernanda Bonacho, was a guest speaker on 2 October at the “Sente Espanto – Fórum de Educação de Viana do Castelo” (“Feel Wonder – Viana do Castelo Education Forum”), organised by the Viana do Castelo city council.

As part of the conferences dedicated to “Inclusion, Citizenship and Participation”, the ESCS lecturer and LIACOM researcher delivered a presentation entitled “When media literacy and citizenship are radical acts of interdependence.”

Her presentation invited reflection on the role of media literacy in building a more conscious, participatory and interdependent form of citizenship.

“Media literacy is not merely a skill for decoding messages; it is an ethical commitment to others. Perhaps that is why it is a radical act of interdependence and one of the deepest ways of exercising democratic citizenship,” the speaker said in her presentation.

The Viana do Castelo Education Forum is a space for exchanging scientific knowledge and sharing professional expertise, fostering dialogue and the sharing of practices.

“Being part of this Forum is proof that media literacy and citizenship are also built through conversation, listening and allowing ourselves to be surprised. Wonder is often the first step towards critical thinking,” Fernanda Bonacho commented in a post about the event.

Text authored by the UNESCO Chair on Communication, Media Literacy and Citizenship
Photograph courtesy of the Viana do Castelo Education Forum