Stakeholder discourses about critical literacies and audience participation

In an increasingly mediatized and datafied society, critical literacies, including critical data literacies, are crucial to navigate through online and offline environments in everyday life (see Chapter 9, this book). In this chapter, we argue that more attention must be paid to critical literacies, particularly in the context of emerging technological environments, if we are to aspire for more consistent patterns of connection between micro and macro socio-political actions. Our argument builds on three analytical steps. First, we trace (dis)connections between stakeholder conceptualizations of micro and macro levels of action. Second, we draw out how stakeholder discourses highlight the critical importance of paying attention to new literacies as technological environments rapidly alter. And third, we underline, that for these two to happen, we need to consider a closer connection between diverse stakeholders, especially considering academics’ contribution to civil society, thereby fostering the social responsibility of educational institutions. These steps are grounded in this book’s critical, agentic and trans-media priorities in its investigation of the future of audiences and audience research.