Empowering Citizens of the AI Age: Competencies and Strategies for MAIL Education in European K-12 Schools
As artificial intelligence becomes deeply integrated into young people’s daily lives and increasingly shapes the media ecosystem, it is essential that “AI natives” develop competencies to critically engage with AI-generated content and its potential misuse. This study seeks to establish a foundational framework of Media and AI Literacy (MAIL) competencies to guide K–12 education systems across Europe. Drawing on 14 semi-structured in-depth interviews with experts operating in related fields in Europe, the research identifies concrete strategies, pedagogical approaches, and design principles for a future-oriented MAIL curriculum. Findings indicate that critical and ethical dimensions of MAIL should be prioritised over technical or domain-specific competencies, particularly in light of rapid technological change. The study also highlights the need for layered and adaptive pathways that ensure long-term curricular relevance beyond periodic framework updates. By addressing both conceptual and practical gaps, this research contributes to theory building in MAIL and offers guidance for integrating media and AI literacy within formal education.
Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Time: 12 pm EST | 6 pm CET | 10:30 pm IST
Location: Register here for the webinar series.
Presenter: Aurora Alliegro
Italian young researcher recently graduated from the Erasmus Mundus Master's in Journalism, Media & Globalisation at Aarhus University and Ludwig Maximilians University (LMU) of Munich. Twice first author and presenter of the work “Building Better Media Landscapes & Societies through AI Journalism: Global Solutions from Gen Z” at ICA (Denver 2025) and DGPuK conferences (Dresden 2025).