Edukacja medialna w kształtowaniu przyszłości mediów masowych

The subject of the contribution is the importance of media education for the future of mass media. The reason for considering this relationship are changes in the media reception. The nature of these changes and the threats posed to the media illustrate the results of research on new patterns of media consumption. The key research question is what and how it can help the media to overcome new challenges. In searching for the answer to this question, research findings and reports on the changing preferences of media recipients and literature studies on the essence of media education were used. The first allowed the identification of the most important threats to the media, the second indicated the special role of media education in counteracting the negative effects of changes. The main areas of interest of media education are: education about the media, education through the media, education for the media. The most important for the future of mass media is the area of education for media, which focuses on the theory and practice of the media. As an integral part of pedagogy that deals with the whole-life development of man and his environment, he is to prepare for proper understanding and active use of the media, as well as to support the training of specialists to work in them. Both practical and practical actions have been proposed for the implementation of these two tasks.