We would like to invite you to Ofcom’s Making Sense of Media event on Thursday 18 July 2019.

This event will showcase our latest Making Sense of Media research, including key findings relating to online harms and media literacy.

We are bringing together thought leaders, experts and practitioners to discuss and debate the latest insights and challenges in online media literacy.

Confirming your place

Space is limited, so please confirm your place by no later than Thursday 11 July by clicking on the Register button. You also need to specify which break-out afternoon session you would prefer to attend (see below for details of these). We will endeavour to accommodate people’s preferences but can't guarantee you will be able to attend a particular session.

Morning plenary session (10:00 to 12:30)

In our morning session you will hear from Sharon White (Chief Executive, Ofcom), Yih-Choung Teh (Group Director for Strategy and Research, Ofcom), and a number of other speakers including Professor Sonia Livingstone OBE (LSE), Rachel Coldicutt (Chief Executive, Doteveryone) and Stephanie Comey (Senior Manager, Broadcasting Authority of Ireland).

Lunch (12:30 to 13:30): A light sandwich lunch and refreshments provided

Afternoon parallel sessions (13:30 to 15:00)

Session 1: Online harms and bullying

The session will explore concerns around online bullying, considering what the research says and what initiatives exist to help those affected or reduce online bullying. It will discuss what new challenges the online space creates compared to ‘offline’ bullying and how media literacy and greater collaboration could mitigate these developments.

Speakers include Claire Levens (Internet Matters) and Amy Orben (Oxford University).

Session 2: People and data

This session will consider the key dimensions of people’s understanding of data. We will discuss which types of intervention, to which people, might be most effective in raising awareness – both in general and in relation to particular types of online service.

Speakers include Vicki Nash (Oxford Internet Institute), Simon McDougall (Information Commissioner’s Office) and Aisling Colclough (Behavioural Insights Team).

Session 3: Critical understanding including news literacy

Being critically aware of information and news is of increasing importance, but our findings show that in various areas levels of savviness are fairly static. This session will discuss the core measures of critical understanding, with a particular focus on disinformation. We will explore which groups and which issues are the biggest priorities, and how much critical understanding we can reasonably expect from adults and children.

Speakers include Nic Newman (Reuters Institute) and Will Moy (Full Fact)

Session 4: Digital divides and vulnerable groups

This session will examine the latest developments in online take-up, highlighting the growth in smartphones and tablets being the only means of getting online, and will discuss the implications of this. We will examine the variable levels of online engagement among some groups, and which areas are of biggest priority or concern.

Speakers include Douglas White (Carnegie Trust), Simeon Yates (University of Liverpool), Alice Mathers (Good Things Foundation), Helen Undy (Money and Mental Health) and Dr Idil Osman (SOAS).

Afternoon plenary session (15:20 to 16:30)

We will close the day with a final plenary session at which everyone will have the opportunity to hear about the discussions in each of the topic sessions and make further observations.

On the day registration at the Knowledge Centre, British Library will open from 09:15.

Finally, please note that on the day we will be taking some photographs and short video clips to be used as part of our Making Sense of Media programme in the future.

If you have any questions please contact Ofcom’s Making Sense of Media team

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you on Thursday 18 July.

makingsenseofmedia@ofcom.org.uk

Invitation to Ofcom’s Making Sense of Media 2019 Summer Event