Bertelsmann Foundation and AOL Time Warner Foundation Call for Greater Global Commitment to Digital Literacy.

Business Editors

BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 7, 2002

Foundations Present White Paper Recommending New Initiatives for

Education, the Workplace and Civic Engagement for the 21st Century

German Chancellor Schroder, Spanish Prime Minister Aznar,

former U.S. Secretary of State Albright and EU Commission Members

Discuss Challenges and Solutions at the 21st Century Literacy Summit

At a special gathering in Berlin of more than 300 policymakers, business leaders, media experts and academics from 35 countries, the Bertelsmann Foundation and the AOL Time Warner Foundation today presented a joint White Paper on the global development of digital literacy skills for the 21st century.

The paper recommends new policies and practices in three key areas--education, the workplace and civic engagement--and calls on business, government, educators and the nonprofit sector to work together to ensure that people everywhere are prepared to succeed in the Information Age.

Gerd Schulte-Hillen, Vice-Chairman of the Executive Board of the Bertelsmann Foundation, and Steve Case, Chairman of the Board of AOL Time Warner Inc., and Chairman of the AOL Time Warner Foundation, delivered the White Paper, entitled "21st Century Literacy In A Convergent Media World," to German Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, at the start of the two-day "21st Century Literacy Summit." In addition to Chancellor Schroder, who delivered the keynote address at the opening of the conference, other speakers include Spanish Prime Minister and EU Council President Jose Maria Aznar, Mr. Case, Mr. Schulte-Hillen, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and EU Commission members Viviane Reding and Erkki Liikanen.

The White Paper emphasizes the need to regard digital literacy as a basic skill, as important as reading, writing and arithmetic. This means more than just knowing how to operate computers, because the ability to locate, evaluate, organize and productively use information across a broad range of new media is becoming increasingly significant in education, the workplace and civic participation.

According to Chancellor Schroder, media literacy is a key qualification in the 21st century: "Media literacy opens better chances for succeeding in private and business life in a connected world. To learn to deal with digital technologies is a task that must be solved by the entire society. Schools, universities, companies and governments must contribute to this."

The foundations also note that rapid technological developments and expanding globalization require people to continually update their knowledge and skills. "No one should assume that the skills acquired during school and career training will remain adequate to meet tomorrow's demands," said Gerd Schulte-Hillen. "Lifelong learning must become the new educational standard."

In addressing these critical global issues, the White Paper and Summit participants recognize the opportunities and challenges new digital technologies offer society. "More than ever in an era of convergence, the Internet has the power to truly engage people by transforming education from a passive one-way process to an exciting interactive learning experience that connects people all over the world," said Steve Case. "That's why meeting the challenges and seizing the opportunities to equip individuals with 21st Century Literacy skills requires leaders with extraordinary commitment, courage and a clear vision."

Recommendations for Developing 21st Century Literacy Skills

The White Paper's findings serve as a road map to identify and implement global best practices to achieve 21st Century Literacy skills for all citizens. Among the additional recommendations:

-- Learning no longer takes place only in schools or in the workplace. Instead,
people must take advantage of learning opportunities whenever and wherever they
encounter them.

-- The emergence of new technologies makes it possible to establish
environments in which learning is increasingly self-directed and paced to
individual needs. But students must have the discipline and willingness to take
greater control of their own learning.

-- If the Internet is to fulfill the promise of improving democracy,
governments must ensure that e-government means more than simply putting up a
website. Rather, it should mean making access easy and convenient, and helping
citizens acquire the necessary skills to use services effectively.

-- Just as important, e-democracy initiatives must provide for and encourage
new forms of communication, advocacy and problem solving throughout the
population, so that every individual can be involved in determining public
policy.

The Project and its Initiators

With the 21st Century Literacy Summit, the Bertelsmann Foundation and the AOL Time Warner Foundation are initiating a transatlantic dialog on the Information Society.

The nonprofit Bertelsmann Foundation (www.bertelsmann-foundation.de), founded in 1977, examines societal problems, develops effective solutions with scientific experts and practitioners and seeks to implement these models in select areas of society. The Bertelsmann Foundation defines itself as a concept-oriented operating organization.

The AOL Time Warner Foundation (www.aoltwfoundation.org), founded in 2001, seeks to use the power of media, communications and information technology to serve the public interest and strengthen society. The Foundation engages the full range of AOL Time Warner's unique resources to build innovative and sustainable programs in four priority areas: Equipping Kids for the 21st Century; Extending Internet Benefits to All; Engaging Communities in the Arts; and Empowering Citizens and Civic Participation.

Link:

The white paper, "21st Century Literacy in a Convergent Media World" is available for download at www.21stcenturyliteracy.org.