Collaborative Network of Media Literacy Education in Hong Kong Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

This chapter introduces how media literacy (ML) practitioners and the government in Hong Kong responded to the “infodemic” and promoted ML education by adopting a collaborative networking approach during the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement and the COVID-19 pandemic. A collaborative network model is advanced to explain the multiple partnerships of the city’s ML organizations. The collaboration is cost-effective because organizations can share knowledge, ideas, resources, and talent. The ML programs and fact-checking services target all citizens and are in line with the initiative of UNESCO to ensure media and information literacy (MIL) “for everyone and by everyone.” The case of Hong Kong suggests that ML education in future smart cities should be open to all citizens. The programs should be culturally based and community-driven and should appeal to all ages. ML educators should use the “3Rs”: re-learn the media logic, re-design the ML curriculum, and re-develop the pedagogy to meet the new challenges.