Inclusive media and information literacy (IMIL): Building a framework for an age of preparedness and responsibilisation

Introduction. In policy and political debate, media and information literacy (MIL) is increasingly framed as a civic responsibility and a strategic response to the contemporary ‘information crisis’, marked by disinformation and digital insecurity. This positions MIL as essential to democratic resilience and national security but risks excluding individuals who lack the resources or capacities to meet these demands. Method. This paper develops a conceptual framework for critically and constructively analysing the consequences of placing the responsibility of correct information handling on individuals in times of crises and securitisation. Four theoretical building blocks – critical media and information literacy; critical pedagogy; disability studies, and theories of resilience – are used to construct the framework inclusive media and information literacy. Results. The framework presented will allow for an expansion of current MIL research on digital inequalities by bringing together and explicitly highlighting power relations, institutional framings, and the situated agency of vulnerable groups in times of information crisis and heightened preparedness. Conclusion(s). The paper emphasizes the practical relevance of the framework for popular education and public libraries, which increasingly support MIL and democratic resilience as part of the civil defence.