What is Critical Thinking in Media Literacy?

坂本 旬, SAKAMOTO Jun

doi:10.15002/00023002

Critical thinking skills are important in media literacy education. Nevertheless, they are not clear in the field of media literacy education in Japan. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPT) defined the concept of media literacy in 2000, that are the abilities (1)to subjectively read and comprehend media content, (2)to access and use media, and (3)to communicate through media, especially an interactive communication ability. The concept contains critical thinking skills, which are the abilities to analyze, evaluate and critically examine in a social context, and select information conveyed by media. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) redefined "Information and Communication Technology (ICT) media literacy" as an ability to subjectively access, utilize and analyze ICT media as well as communicate creatively with it. It also includes understanding the characteristics and intentions of the sender of the media critically. The concept of critical thinking of the MIC has influenced many media literacy researchers and educators in Japan. However critical thinking is more complex than figuring out the intentions of the sender. It is necessary to consider the concepts of critical thinking which were developed in the US such as the five core concepts of media literacy of the center for media literacy and critical media literacy theory. Kellner and Share have updated the five core concepts and the questions for critical media literacy. Therefore it is worth reconsidering the concept of critical thinking in media literacy in Japan.

What is Critical Thinking in Media Literacy?

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