Altogether, media and information literacy is a citizen’s right, especially in the age of digital information. A media literate society is needed to enable healthy democracies and public participation. While MIL is a relatively new concept, and the crucial role that MIL education plays in creating an information/ knowledge society at all levels, might not be understood, media and information literacy knowledge, skills and attitudes enable critical thinking in citizens and the attainment of developmental goals, especially in the evolving global environment. As a distinction, citizens who are media and information literate can differentiate between fact and opinion, question the origins of the content they receive, and verify their sources. The saying that “don’t believe everything you read” remains relevant today. By Lizette Feris UNDERSTANDING MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY (MIL) I NFORMATION is an important commodity the world over. Although not always a tangible one, it is one of the basic resources for development, with the ability to be reproduced, traded, and consumed while on the other hand, it can be free. Whether it is paid for or not, oversaturation of information is evidently taking place. It makes relevant the question of the entitlement to this necessary knowledge, skills, and understanding the attitudes that deal with this prolific commodity. Kofi Annan (2003, in the Literacy Day message) said: “Acquiring literacy is an empowering process, enabling millions to enjoy access to knowledge and information which broadens horizons, increases opportunities, and creates alternatives for building a better life.” The then UN Secretary General said this because it is a perquisite for reaching global anti-poverty goals and is very relevant in today’s unequal and digitalised world. Media and information literacy (MIL), as defined by UNESCO in 2007, “constitutes a composite set of knowledge, skills, attitudes, competencies, and practises required to effectively access, analyse, critically evaluate, interpret, use, create and disseminate information and media products with the use of existing means and tools on a creative, legal, and ethical basis.” (1) In considering MIL, that saying is extended to go a step further by “don’t believe everything you see and hear”. This is in recognition to the fact that citizens now more than ever have access to sources of information which vary in quality, and media and information literate individuals are able to analyse the content and understand that there are agendas behind all constructed media and information messages, and that sometimes the news media sells a certain viewpoint and leaves out some voices on important issues. With MIL, citizens are empowered to draw independent conclusions and to make informed decisions based on the information they choose to consume. They can discern news media bias and can then make a demand for quality and STATE OF PRESS FREEDOM IN SOUTHERN AFRICA REPORT 2021 61 THE STATE OF MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA