A set of guidelines, funded by UNESCO and commissioned by the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA) have recently been published on how broadcasters around the world can encourage better quality user-generated content (UGC) and improve media and information literacy.

The basis of the report is to provide guidance on how to encourage a greater diversity of material from a wider range of voices. Content that can not only fill the commercial needs of broadcasters, however the viewing needs of the public audience as well.

“UNESCO and CBA joined forces to encourage broadcasters, particularly from the developing countries, to interact with their viewers and listeners to enhance the quality of the User-Generated Content (UGC) through improved Media and Information Literacy (MIL) of their audiences and, more specifically, UGC producers,” said Abdul Waheed Khan, assistant director-general for communications and information at UNESCO.

The guidelines were written by Martin Scott, lecturer in media and development at the University of East Anglia. The report follows research published last year by UNESCO and CBA which found a lack of initiatives by broadcasters to promote UGC and media and information literacy.

The real-time availability, accessibility and ease of spreading content over evolving technology is allowing for more people to share and generate new media. UGC has proven a huge benefit to media organizations this year through breaking material which broadcasters might not otherwise obtain.

“These guidelines come at a time when the production and availability of UGC continues to grow and there is increasing recognition that in order to take part in modern day information societies, people across the world need to be media and information literate,” explained Scott.

The guidelines also address the potential risks and concerns about the commercial and practical implications of using UGC. While primarily written for broadcasters, the hope is that they will also be used by the wider media industry as well as media education organizations.