Report MIL

* Greater Political Participation

- What is Political Participation ?

*Political Participation involves more than just voting in an election. Political

Participation derives from freedom to speak out or express, assemble and
associate. It is the ability take part in the conduct of public affairs and the
opportunity to register as a candidate, to campaign to be elected and to hold
office at any level or position in government.

So the question is....

How does being a Media and Information Literate Individual can make us
more.... ?

* Politically Engaged

* Politically Active

* Politically Smart

* Politically Concern

* Responsible Citizen

* Media has an important relationship with political participation. Broadcast

Media in particular, provides a platform from which people of every part of
society can potentially influenced the decision that affects their lives.
In other words, media is a driver of political participation. This participation

can act as a demonstration effect, leading to increased political participation

even in other forums Such as discussing Politics – privately (with family
and friends) or public (in a “town hall meeting” or debate or forum.

Secondly Mass Media plays an important role in providing information and

understanding of political issues. They gave us access to political information
through news, or online and because of that access, our political knowledge
is increased. According to a study conducted by the National Association of
Media Literacy Education in USA,

" People that is news and media literate, will also be more knowledgeable
about current events and will be more politically active as compare to less
media literate individuals"

In other words, Media Literacy makes us more engaged, active and concern
when It comes to political participation. Because being Literate means
having knowledge, having knowledge gives you interest about politics, and
having interest makes you participate.

And lastly by equipping individuals with knowledge, skills and confidence to

participate in public life, media can empower citizens to hold their
governments accountable and, ultimately, sanction their leaders for any
wrongdoing, Media can influence accountability at three levels:

• Empowering people: providing trusted, accurate and balanced information,

stimulating discussion and challenging restrictive norms so that people from
every section of society can participate effectively in the decisions that are
important to them

• Creating space: supporting more inclusive public discussion on the

issues that matter to all sections of society

• Influencing power: exposing those in power to views from across

society, requiring them to explain and answer for their actions,

increasing transparency and improving their responsiveness

So the Conclusion is that it is important for us to be media and information

literate in order to be more politically engaged, Politically Smart, concerned
and Responsible Citizen. Our participation in the matters of public affairs in
our society is significant, because according to a quote that I've red while
preparing for this report " PARTICIPATION OF THE GOVERNED IN THEIR
GOVERNMENT IS IN THEORY, THE CORNERSTONE OF DEMOCRACY "