Media literacy in Russia: mapping the problem areas

Abstract

In December 2014, ZIRCON Research Group conducted a representative mass survey of the Russian population in order to determine its general level of media literacy. This project is implemented in the form of monitoring since 2009 and allows tracking changes in the prevalence among the population of various skills related to handling the media. During the preparation for the sixth wave of the survey the notion of “media literacy” was reconceptualized – this procedure is described in details in the text.
On the basis of the empirical data collected through a survey the map of the Russian’s media literacy was compiled. In addition to this map the integral index of media literacy was calculated. The index allows concluding that the main part of the population has acceptable level of media literacy. At the same time map analysis shows that approximately three quarter of the population is not comfortable with new media/Internet skills and self-protection skills.