The event started off with MLI Co-Chair Stephanie Comey giving an overview of what we’ve been up to over the last 12 months. Quite a bit, as it happens. Have a look at this video to get a taste…
Stephanie took a moment to thank all the MLI members who have been actively involved in supporting all of our activities over the last 12 months, including the 109 members of the Working Group Panel – who are the work engine of MLI.
The Be Media Smart campaign is an excellent example of what we can achieve when we work together. However, a small number of members have shouldered a significant amount of the work and Stephanie thanked a couple of people in particular for their support: Joe Hoban from RTÉ, Máire Aoibhinn Ní Ógáin from TG4, Anna-Marie Barry from Virgin Media Ireland, Mark Carpenter from Sky Ireland, Teresa Hanratty of Learning Waves, CROAL and the Community Media sector, Eileen Culloty, Shane Creevy from Kinzen, Susan Daly from The Journal and Aine Kerr from Kinzen.
A special note of thanks was also made to the Irish Language Working Group of Máire Aoibhinn Ní Ógáin, John Walsh, Geroid MacDonncha, Seán Tadhg Ó Gairbhí and Sara McNamara, for their work on the Be Media Smart website and the Irish Language webinar ‘Cogar Mogar’.
This time last year we were tentatively dipping our toe into the world of webinars and a number of MLI members have been key to the success of the Media Literacy Monday webinar series. They include: Eileen Cullty, Isabelle Courtney, Eugenia Siapera, Philip Cohen, Catriona Mulcahy, Jane McGarrigle, Susan Daly, Lisa Buckley, Marian Higgins, Ross Keane, Helen Ryan, Nessa McGann, Kennedy O’Brien.
Stephanie also acknowledged the following people for their support with MLI communications: Joanne Ahearn, Martina Byrne, David Geary, Jane McGArrigle, Catriona Mulcahy, Fardus Sultan and Teresa Hanratty.
Looking to the future, Stephanie mentioned some of the exciting activities that lay ahead – such as the work on our ‘Rewarding Excellence Programme’ with support from Nessa McGann, Alicia McGivern, Aine O Meara, Caitriona Ni Chasaide, Ciaran Mannion and Bernie Goldbach.
Another area that we will be focusing on next year is the mapping of media literacy tools, courses and resources as part of our media literacy training programme which is being supported by Teresa Hanratty, Emma Bowell, Isabelle Courtney, Ricardo Castellini Di Silva, Elaine King, Sally Galiana, Philip Cohen, Jane McGarrigle, Valerie Gannon and Lisa Buckley.
Finally, Stephanie noted that when MLI started in 2017 we had just over 20 members whom were consulted on the strategic direction of MLI. Four years later we have well over 200 members and once again MLI members will play a part in setting the future direction of MLI as we head into 2022.
The second part of the event was hosted by our other Co-Chair Prof. Brian O’Neill, who introduced our guest speaker for the afternoon – Prof. Renee Hobbs – who delivered a very engaging, enjoyable and thought-provoking lecture which you can watch here. Our sincere thanks to Prof. Hobbs for her generous contribution to the MLI Annual Conference.
