mediatiedon

Mediatiedon is a Finnish term used in media studies and information science to refer to knowledge about media and how media operates within society. The term encompasses understanding what media is, how it is produced and distributed, and how audiences interpret and respond to media messages.

In practice, mediatiedon often aligns with broader notions of media literacy and critical information literacy. Core components include critical analysis of media content, awareness of media production processes, knowledge of media ownership and funding models, understanding of algorithms and platform design, and ability to evaluate sources, detect misinformation, and recognize bias.

In educational contexts, mediatiedon is taught in Finnish schools as part of media education and information literacy; librarians and information professionals also aim to develop mediatiedon by teaching how to locate, evaluate, and responsibly use media.

The term is not uniformly defined and its usage varies among institutions; some prefer “mediatieto” or “mediakriittisyys” to emphasize critical thinking. Because of this variability, mediatiedon is best understood as a flexible umbrella for knowledge about media and the competencies required to participate as an informed citizen.

Related concepts include media literacy, information literacy, digital literacy, and media sociology.