Media and information literacy enables people to interpret and make informed judgments as users of information and media, as well as to become skillful creators and producers of information  and media messages in their own right. MIL combines media literacy and information literacy under one term, and includes a combination of competencies. Media literacy emphasizes the ability to understand media functions, evaluate how they are performed and use them for self-expression, while information literacy emphasizes the importance of access to information and the evaluation and ethical use of such information. It recognizes the primary role of information and media in our everyday lives. It focuses on the  freedom of expression and information since it empowers citizens to understand the functions of media and other information providers, to evaluate their content, and to make informed criticism as users and producer of information and media content .

Information Literacy and Media Literacy are traditionally seen as separate fields. It is the strategy  that  brings together these two fields as a combined sets of competencies (knowledge, skills and attitude) necessary for life and work today. MIL considers all forms of media and other information providers such as libraries, archive, museums, Internet and other technology used.

The importance of being a media and information literate person is very crucial nowadays because we are living in the 21st century which revolves us with rapid growth of technologies such as television, computers, cellphones, radio’s and other medium for information. Being literate about media and information will give us advantage in our modern world today especially in terms of giving and gathering information knowing best most of the false and accurate information in different kinds of medium especially in media. A country with citizens that is media and information literate will gain more advantage compare to other countries which stays in traditional way of being literate such as referring to libraries, archive, newspaper and etc., Mostly in terms of good governance and accountability. Some other benefits are to improve the quality of life, improved learning environment and more cohesive learning units.