Quo Vadis, Media Literacy? Notes from Latvia, Bulgaria, and the USA

Investigating and comparing the contents of recent media texts and policy documents about Media Literacy (ML) initiatives in Latvia, Bulgaria and the USA, our analysis responds to the questions: (1) what is the current state of discourse about ML in respective countries?; and (2) in what ways are ML related to national security, defense against propaganda and the national or social practices associated with “integration”? Our findings indicate the status of ML education and public practice across respective countries is different, albeit somewhat similarly “political,” in all of the nations. We also suggest that media literacy teaching and practices should more strongly emphasize the necessities of media and information literacies.