Head Start – Media Literacy in Hungarian Education Policy (1990-1995)

Abstract

With an ever stronger influence over culture, politics and society at large, (social) media has made its way into classrooms in many countries across the globe through media literacy education. At the core of media literacy stands the need to educate students in a century of media culture. Media literacy education has a fairly long history in Hungary, compared to other neighbouring countries. Its roots can be found in the aesthetics classes of the 1960s, but as a subject, media literacy was introduced in 1996. Hungary is in the fortunate position thus of having an optional subject to explore the role of mass-media in society for over 20 years now. This article aims to investigate the very first steps of media literacy education in terms of educational policy-making. For doing so, the article builds upon interpretive policy analysis and expert interviews and sheds light over how a very modern field of study appeared in Hungarian public education.