Columbia College Chicago Celebrates Media Literacy Week with Global and Campus Initiatives

person on stage at podium next to large screen Yonty Friesem, PhD, associate professor at Columbia, served as one of the opening keynote speakers at the UNESCO International Conference on AI and Media Literacy in Cartagena, Colombia.
During National and International Media Literacy Week, which runs Oct. 27 to 31, Columbia College Chicago participates in initiatives highlighting the importance of media literacy.

Columbia College Chicago’s School of Communication and Culture is celebrating National and International Media Literacy Week (October 27–31) through a series of global and campus-wide initiatives highlighting the importance of media literacy and responsible engagement with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI).

Yonty Friesem, PhD, associate professor at Columbia, served as one of the opening keynote speakers at the UNESCO International Conference on AI and Media Literacy in Cartagena, Colombia. In their keynote, Friesem shared how reflective AI practices are integrated into Columbia’s curriculum and why that’s important.

“AI and media literacy are more than just human rights; they are the only way to bring back the eroded trust of many audiences with the media industry and find ways of balancing wellbeing and media use,” Friesen says.

Meanwhile, Brendan Riley, PhD, associate professor at Columbia, is teaching the newly revised media literacy course COMM 120, which blends games, group work, and creative writing to explore the impact of digital culture. As part of the course, students are preparing to present at Net Inclusion 2026, an international conference in Chicago on February 5, where global scholars, practitioners, and policymakers will discuss AI equity and digital inclusion.

“The students’ projects will represent the culmination of the media literacy course,” says Riley. “Through multimedia works — from short videos to visual posters — students will explore how digital technologies shape contemporary life, addressing topics like parasocial relationships, body image, and digital well-being.”

The students’ presentation will take place in the school’s renovated TV Broadcast Studio, inviting visitors to engage with class members and facilitators.

 “Media Literacy is a foundational skill for any college-educated student in the world today — particularly students in the communications and media arts,” says Ames Hawkins, PhD, interim director of the School of Communication and Culture at Columbia.

Columbia Provost Suzanne McBride adds: “At Columbia College Chicago, we greatly value media literacy in our courses and degrees, which is why this year we incorporated more AI and media competencies into the curriculum to prepare our students for their future in the art and communication industries.”

Through these efforts, Columbia College Chicago reaffirms its commitment to equipping students with critical thinking skills, digital fluency, and the ethical awareness necessary for navigating today’s complex media landscape.

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