About — Media Smart Citizens

MISSION

Media is central to every aspect of our lives. Our mission is to provide citizens with accessible knowledge to critically examine content, evaluate sources, and use technology smartly to responsibly engage in the digital world.

IMPACT

Media Smart Citizens is a civil society organization powered by indie creators and partnerships that build an impactful network of highly respected, public service-focused organizations. We believe an empowered democracy is composed of media-literate citizens equipped to have a positive impact on the world.

According to the United Nations, almost half the world's population, 3.7 billion people, the majority of them women, and most in developing countries, are digitally excluded. Limited digital access and skills can result in cascading challenges to the lives of individuals. Research confirms poorer health outcomes, lower life expectancy, increased loneliness and social isolation, less potential to obtain education and jobs, and increased financial hardship. Furthermore, digitally excluded people lack a voice and visibility in the modern world and increasingly require engaging with media and tech tools. These factors further widen the social inequality gap of citizens and hinder democracy.

MSC is recognized as an inventive new media and information literacy model. Our efforts help reduce digital exclusion and drive awareness about rapidly escalating issues in modern society.

Media Smart Citizens upskills and uplifts learners eager to understand digital tools and their ability to improve everyday life. We have attracted an impressive growing set of network partners. The original and curated content supported by academic research has earned international critical acclaim that engages the public through our network effect distribution strategy. As a result of the dedication of our collective network of partners to this work, our original resources and outreach efforts are expanding the availability and positive effects of our media and information education.

INNOVATION

Media Smart Citizens is committed to enabling the fundamental human right of digital equity and education. Our educational content, resources, partnerships, and programs are designed to overcome media and information literacy issues and advance digital equity for all. We aim to demystify complex ideas and tech in accessible formats to optimize reach and usability for individuals who need assistance embracing the realities of a digital world. MSC original and curated content has earned international critical acclaim through our network effect distribution strategy.

MSC is expanding the possibilities of media and information literacy. We produce digital guides, audio recordings, original videos, thought leadership events, and workshops that inform, engage and inspire. Built on a foundation of trust, we value accuracy, accountability, creativity, and accessible communication practices. We seek to distill complex digital world issues in digestible terms and diverse delivery formats for optimal comprehension and reach. We respect those who encounter our work of varying backgrounds in the spirit of transparency, safety, accessibility, open access, and humanity.

The Center for Fast Media, MSC’s newest initiative, facilitates transformative learning based on personal experiences in the digital world, rethinking engagement, and making smarter choices. Fast Media and the associated awareness model supported by academic research is a game-changing approach to the evolving world of tech, media, and human experience.

The Media Smart Citizens volunteer internship program introduces the next generation of media makers and managers to the significance of recognizing and proactively addressing digital inequality and exclusion through accessible education for all. Leading domestic and international universities have approved our internship program via Handshake, including The New School Media Management Graduate Program, Parsons School of Design, Drexel University, School of Visual Arts (SVA), and The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism.

THE MSC NETWORK EFFECT

Media Smart Citizens brings innovative thinking to help solve a societal challenge and has gained the confidence and trust of leading institutions. We provide a service to the digital inclusion ecosystem by developing and distributing award-winning multimedia content across an international network.

Together with our partners, Media Smart Citizens is advancing digital inclusion and digital equity for all. Media Smart Citizens is a recognized partner and content collaborator of The New York Public Library (NYPL), Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL), The New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA), The Center for Communication, The New School, and NYPL College & Career Pathways. NYPL is the nation’s largest public library system and the fourth-largest library in the world, serving more than 16 million patrons a year and millions more online.

Media Smart Citizens (MSC) is a proud member of The UNESCO MIL Alliance, a groundbreaking effort to promote international cooperation to ensure that all citizens have access to media and information competencies. The UNESCO MIL Alliance is a joint initiative of UNESCO and other key stakeholders such as the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), UNICEF, Open Society Foundation, IREX, European Commission, and other UN agencies and international development partners who agree to come on board in future.

Learn more

The joint efforts by participants accelerate progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) on education and lifelong learning and reflect on the role of literacy in building more inclusive, peaceful, just, and sustainable societies. Since 1967, International Literacy Day (ILD) worldwide celebrations have taken place annually to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society. In 2023, International Literacy Day was celebrated worldwide under the theme, ‘Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies.’

DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY POLICY

The Media Smart Citizens team is empathetic towards digital inclusion and digital equity needs and is proactive in presenting solutions based on best practices. Our Digital Accessibility Policy strives to mitigate barriers based on International Design Standards for accessing digital-based learning on our platforms by integrating assistive technology. By incorporating Universal Design Learning (UDL), we create engaging explanatory journalism resources that will increase access, participation, and success. The MSC website features technology from UserWay, the global digital accessibility leader, providing a range of barrier-free digital access solutions. Our content team audio producer relies on technology from Speechify Studio, the number one AI voice-over generator that enables text-to-speech on the MSC site. MSC has translated its leading original video content into the five UN languages to broaden its reach.

VALUES

Accessible Education

We believe learning tools and experiences should be equally available to all so they can be empowered to grow.
Independence

We value a culture of independence by embracing creative, original thinking and critical analysis as we innovate to invent new solutions.
Empower & Inspire

We provide a variety of media and information literacy resources individuals can explore and use to ignite a personal learning journey.
Be the Change

We recognize each person on this earth has the potential to make the world a better place with their ideas, actions and stories.
Inclusive Collaboration

We partner with like-minded organizations, libraries, community groups and individuals to advance media fluency.
Global Citizenship

We agree that media literacy is a basic human right. It enables individuals to engage with the world in meaningful ways.

MEET THE TEAM

WORKING TO EMPOWER YOU

Media Smart Citizens (MSC) is a civil society organization powered by indie creators and partnerships that build an impactful network of highly respected, public service-focused organizations. We are committed to enabling the fundamental human right of digital equity. With limited funding and outsized effort, Media Smart Citizens has gained attention as a groundbreaking initiative, championing digital equity and inclusion through a modern approach to open media and tech education resources and programming in service to the public. Our team of dedicated volunteers and interns includes university students, faculty, librarians, researchers, and industry advisors.

LEADERSHIP

Linda Saint Marc

Founder + Chief Innovation Officer
Miranda Gilbert

Associate Publisher + Content Studio Lead

CONTENT DEVELOPMENT + PUBLISHING

Anna Rishik

Video Producer
Paulina Perez-Hortinela

Creative Associate
Andrew Scott

Web Editor + Content Creator

Skyler Martin

Digital Marketing Associate
Medha Mogili

UX and Analytics
Ethan Glazar

Content Writer
Isabel Hall

Content Writer

CONTRIBUTORS

Ahenfua Aboagye-Nyame

Akshita Vhatkar

Amanda Sakkari

Ananya Jain

Ananya Shankar Narayan

Andrea Dutko

Andrea Lorena Fernandez

Angela Dahnous

Apoorva Lodha

Asavari Sharma

Bailey Guerrier

Christine Mascolo

Elisabeth Welch

Frida Richards

Ginevra Porcelli

Grace Keyworth

Hannah Moch

Htet Myat

Jeongmyo Han

Jonathan Owuor

Kaila Browner

Keta Bagashvili

Kimmie Cortez

Leyla Ebrahimi

Lindsay Meeks

Liza Zakharova

Lochlyn Clark

Luca Bella Facinelli

Mahitha Kolupoti

Marcelo Sachs

Nana Opoku

Navjyot Dhariwal

Nezih Bouali

Nidhi Murali

Nishita Anjaria

Nishka Hiren Shah

Olu Aina

Pauline Roggemans

Philip Akre

Rhea Naidu

Sam Negahdar

Simon Sciacovelli

Skyla Schreter

Sristhi Tamanna

Swetha Subramanian

Willow Kroger

Yordanos Gebru

Yutian Feng

Zahra Lakdawala

ADVISORS

Nelly Kobanenko

Project Management Advisor
Cole Bannick

Production Advisor
Adam Santiago

Legal Advisor
Nicole LaMoreaux

Library AdvisorAssistant DirectorResearch + Instructional ServicesThe New School
Andrea Zarczynski

Digital Empathy + Accessibility Advisor
Urvashi Ajmera

Digital Marketing Advisor
Jennifer Emily Fiore

Editorial Advisor
Sarthak Garg

Design Advisor
Feilin Gao

Production Advisor