Educommunication and Media Literacy in Latin America: A 5-Year Review

What is Educommunication?

According to the research by Lotero-Echeverri, Romero-Rodríguez, and Pérez-Rodríguez, educommunication is the intersection of education and communication, focusing on empowering individuals as critical users and producers of media content in digital societies.

Why is it Important?

This article explains that media literacy is essential for navigating information overload and fostering democratic engagement. The main findings indicate a strong regional emphasis on digital media environments, with qualitative methods dominating the research landscape.

How is it Applied?

H2: Study Overview

The authors analyzed 167 research articles published from 2013 to 2017 in nine Latin American communication journals indexed in Scopus. Topics include media literacy, transmedia narratives, and digital inclusion. Brazil and Spain lead in author contributions, with most publications in Spanish or Portuguese.

H3: Digital and Educational Focus

Most studies focus on digital environments and their implications for communication and education. According to the research, 35% of articles address digital communication, followed by media education and journalism.

H3: Methodologies and Gaps

The research trends reveal a preference for qualitative methods (42%), followed by quantitative and mixed approaches. Despite increasing collaboration, 41% of articles are still authored individually, signaling structural limitations in Latin American research institutions.

FAQs

Q: What are the main challenges in media education today?

The study highlights digital saturation and the myth of “digital natives” as key challenges, emphasizing the need for comprehensive media competencies beyond access.

Q: How visible are Latin American journals in global research?

This article explains that only a small number of Latin American communication journals are indexed in Scopus, and even fewer in Web of Science, limiting global visibility.

Q: What research topics are emerging in the region?

According to the study, there is a growing but still limited exploration of transmedia storytelling and MOOCs as tools for lifelong digital education.