Defining Egyptian Media Literacy through the Lens of Current Events: A Descriptive Analysis

Now that we are living in a digital age, we should be aware of the mass media messages we get bombarded with in everyday life situations. These messages can be imprecise or fabricated. Furthermore, we need to be aware of the regulations and policies applied in the media field, which serve both audience and professionals interests. Attaining this kind of knowledge comes from acquiring media literacy skills, so that we can participate responsibly in the new century digital society, especially because our society suffers from media illiteracy in all types of mass media.
Consequently, Egyptians need to acquire new knowledge and tools to make responsible and shrewd decisions regarding the free flow of information they are bombarded with, as most of them stopped caring about the quality of information they get from social media. Therefore, these skills are no longer optional or pleasing, on the contrary, they became crucial and essential in achieving all the social and personal benefits required in succeeding in a digital age.
The study aims at determining new media literacy among youth and its effect on their usage skills and patterns. In addition to, measuring their analytical, communicative, creative, productive, participative, evaluative, comprehensive, and
distributive abilities while using the different types of online media. Moreover, it will discuss how media literacy contributes to the awareness, the knowledge, and the empowerment of the Egyptian audience through the practice of their selective skills.
Moreover, the study aims at measuring the position and the degree of media education among the Egyptian youth. Finally, identifying the demographic variables like (age, gender, and educational level) and their impact on users’ degree of media literacy (both consuming and prosuming) and usage skills.
The study is based on Quantitative Research, where Survey method will be used. A pre-planned questionnaire will be distributed among a representative sample to measure their diverse behavior in the online space, and their understanding of the notion of New Media Literacy. The population of the study is represented in all types 60 of youth who use new media, especially social media. Additionally, qualitative research was used to measure the notion of media education, where in-depth interviews were conducted with media and non-media professors; to analyze the
position and status of media education in the educational institutions.