What is media literacy and why does it matter? Perspectives of Senegalese media professionals.

This article examines the understanding and perspectives of Senegalese media professionals on media literacy as a strategy to combat misinformation in Senegal. Despite Senegal’s early introduction of media literacy education in schools during the 1960s, the country currently lacks a national media literacy policy, leaving its population vulnerable amid rising misinformation driven by factors such as high illiteracy rates and increased digital access. Through thematic analysis of 22 interviews with journalists, fact-checkers, and policy experts, the study finds that media literacy is variably understood—often seen as journalist training or public education—and that a multi-actor approach involving government, media organizations, social media platforms, schools, religious institutions, and civil society is favored for implementation. Media literacy content is suggested to include critical thinking, understanding journalistic processes, online safety, and legal responsibilities, targeting diverse groups beyond schoolchildren to address widespread misinformation challenges in Senegal’s multilingual and socio-politically complex context.