The Commission wants to know what you think about media literacy.

Media literacy, a long time favourite subject of many adult educators, is again brought to public scrutiny in the light of a growing digital divide. Everybody seems to agree on the importance of the subject, the question is what to do about it.

"Media literacy is as central to active and full citizenship as literacy was at the beginning of the 19th century," says Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding, heralding the launch of another Commission consultation.

On October 6 2006, the Commission opened an EU-wide survey of best practices, to find out where the public stands on media literacy in connection with digital technologies and initiatives in commercial communications, film and cyberspace.

The Commission aims to set out its findings in a Communication in 2007, with the deadline for responses being 15 December. Innovations in information and communication technology mean that, increasingly, anyone has the means to publish, broadcast and communicate, so the ability to judge media-content´s merit and make conscious choices - or 'media literacy' - becomes ever-more essential for active citizenship and democracy.

Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding said: "It is …central for entering the new broadband world of content, available everywhere and anytime. I therefore expect [the] consultation to highlight good practices at European level and to identify ideas for future initiatives."