Pioneers Present at Media Literacy Symposium in the Azores

Students shared their perspectives on media’s impact with 150 conference attendees

A group of Sacred Heart University students and alumni recently presented their research at the International Media Literacy Research Symposium (IMLRS) at the Ponta Delgada Public Library and Regional Archive in the Azores, an archipelago of Portugal.

The conference was an opportunity for attendees to present their findings, engage with international experts and contribute to ongoing conversations about media literacy education. The SHU group’s research highlighted college students’ unique perspectives and experiences and contributed valuable insights to the broader discourse on media literacy.

Founded in 2013 by Belinha De Abreu, adjunct professor in SHU’s communication studies department, the IMLRS brings together new and established researchers from around the world who are studying media literacy education. The biyearly conference fills a research gap with findings from current scholars, graduate students, educators and others interested in moving media literacy forward.

The students selected to present at the conference were enrolled in De Abreu’s media literacy course, where they studied how to be media literate in a world of misinformation and disinformation. Their research explored various aspects of media literacy, such as social media’s impact on political engagement, the media’s role in shaping public opinion and the importance of critical thinking in navigating the digital landscape. The group of students and alumni presenting included Alejandro J. Ramos ’23, Mollie Lewis ’24, Collin Moura ’25, Caitlyn Natosi ’24, Molly Jacob ’24, Julie Dunn ’24 and Jack Walsh ’25. Taciane Batista, an adjunct professor in the School of Communication, Media & the Arts, also presented a roundtable on “AI and Media Literacy.”

“Being a panelist at this conference was very empowering,” said Dunn. “Being among such inspiring and established individuals really opened my eyes to the change we can make in the world.”

“As some of the youngest panelists attending the conference, we had a different perspective,” she added. “While this could have been very belittling, I felt like my insights were valued and held their weight in the conversation.”

The students’ project was a culmination of a year’s worth of work with De Abreu upon receiving the SHU Academics for Creative Teaching (ACT) grant on the topic, “Talking Past Each Other: Relearning Respectful Discourse in a Mediated World.” Students were selected from the media literacy course to enroll in a special research cohort during the fall of 2023. As part of this research group, they had read three books: Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times by Monica Guzman, Reclaiming Conversation by Sherry Turkle and High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out of It by Amanda Ripley. Student collaborations resulted in deep discussions and writings as well as the production of a documentary by Dunn called Look Up. This work, including the documentary, was shared at the symposium.

Ramos said the IMLRS was different from other conferences he has attended. “I had three presentations and was excited when they sparked fruitful conversations,” he said. “Experts in the field not only offered me advice, but they also said they had never viewed these issues from my perspective. I felt a sense of community with all the attendees, no matter their level of expertise. I will forever be thankful to Dr. De Abreu for this opportunity.”

De Abreu is grateful her students experienced the conference and that they had a chance to travel internationally. She said it is crucial for students to realize media literacy’s global connections, and attending a gathering abroad added to their understanding.

Walsh agreed that the global perspective was important. “Going to the Azores and learning about media literacy on a global scale was very interesting,” he said. “As college students who consume media on a daily basis, we appreciated the chance to share our perspectives with professionals from all over the world.”