Media literacy courses in faculties of communication in TRNC

AbstractDevelopments in information technologies have changed the world and the way we create and use information. Due to these developments, flow of messages occupy daily life through media. In order to overcome the chaos of the messages, people are in need of acquiring critical thinking and self-expression in media environment. Children, as well as adults, are becoming a part of this phenomenon, and teachers need to know how to leverage these technologies to better educational systems. Media literacy, which is an ability to access, analyze, evaluate and communicate messages in a variety of forms, has become a key subject for eliminating the harmful effects of media.In this study, media literacy understanding in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has been put forward and the programs of five Faculties of Communication on the island have been analysed in the light of media literacy and its importance. As a program initiative, media literacy presumes to go beyond fundamental theoretical communication courses by providing student-outcome that enables students to become active participants in an increasingly media-saturated society. In the paper, it is discussed that with improving the programs of Faculties of Communication, the graduates will have the opportunity to become the future teachers of media literacy in primary and secondary education