Transliteracy and the digital media: theorizing media and information literacy

To become a scientific field of its own and not a poor relation of communication studies or education sciences, Media and Information Literacy (MIL) needs to be supported by strong theoretical and methodological constructs. Transliteracy purports to provide a compelling contribution to MIL theory, with cutting-edge core notions and innovative research postures that have the potential of restructuring the field of education and communication. Defining the contours of transliteracy as a frontier field provides a framework for understanding how information via the digital media has become the crux of knowledge construction and identity formation. Understanding the convergence produced by mediatization, documentarization and datafication makes it possible to address contemporary crises related to the platformization of media and learning as well as disinformation while embracing the opportunities for sustainability. Ultimately, transliteracy fosters “forwardance,” the reasoned and agile use of the affordances of digital media, and its full inclusion in the core curriculum holds the promise of transformative education.