Understanding Media & Information Literacy Requirements Needed for Successful Implementation of Open Government: Proposal of a Contextual-Participatory Approach

There is a wealthy body of literature on the “why” and “how” of media and information literacy (MIL) explaining why MIL is an inseparable component of knowledge societies and why it is a requirement for building a culture of Open Government (OG). However, this literature mainly reflects the outsiders’ perspectives. These include information literacy experts, media experts and advocates of the Information for All Programme.  Although the outsiders’ views highlight some aspects of MIL, they do not address the “wants”, “wishes” and “worries” of those who are actually part of the OG formation process. These include people, government and the media who participate in, and contribute to, the creation and communication of information in the context of OG. As a result, there is a gap between the outsiders’ definitions of MIL, and what MIL would actually mean in the actual contexts of OG, as perceived and experienced by those who play a part in it.  To fill the gap, this article proposes a contextual-participatory approach as it gives room to those whose lived experiences and concerns are the key source of insight for understanding situations and phenomena.