The National Literacy Trust (NLT) yesterday highlighted the “urgent need to broaden our understanding of literacy in the digital age” in a new paper titled The Future of Literacy: Multimodal Reading.
The paper, supported by Audible and Oxford University Press, warns that the gap between what literacy encompasses in practice and what education, policy and community systems are equipped to support is widening, and calls for reading across print, digital, audio and visual mediums to “be validated in homes, schools, businesses and communities, to ensure that no child or young person is left behind”.
What is the future of literacy?
In a digital-first world, the ways in which children and young people engage with language are evolving rapidly. The NLT's Future of Literacy project will explore how the digital landscape is reshaping literacy and the skills children and young people need to thrive both today and in the future.
The series aims to offer a hopeful vision where literacy is not a barrier, but instead a bridge to opportunity, equity and lifelong learning.
Over the coming months, they will publish a series of papers exploring themes of multimodal reading, literacy for the workplace and media literacy.
Jonathan Douglas CBE, CEO of the NLT, commented: “Literacy today goes beyond printed books and writing with pen and paper – it encompasses digital reading, audio storytelling, visual narratives and interactive media.
“Our task is not to defend one tradition over another but to recognise literacy as a living, evolving practice and to ensure that every child can flourish as a reader in the literacies of tomorrow – whatever the format. Fundamental to this will be equipping teachers with the skills and resources to confidently embed multimodal reading in the classroom."
You can download the Future of Literacy: Multimodal Reading report now on the National Literacy Trust website.
“As we approach the National Year of Reading in 2026, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring families, educators, policymakers, charities, libraries, publishers and businesses together to reimagine reading, shape the future of literacy and enable our young people – and society – to thrive.”
Aisha Glover, global head of urban innovation at Audible, said: “Audio and other non-traditional reading formats create more pathways to literacy, particularly for youth who struggle with text-based learning. At Audible, we believe that by leveraging the power of audio storytelling, we can play a crucial role in expanding literacy by improving comprehension, motivation and fluency for the next generation as they imagine new possibilities for their futures.”
What is Multimodal Reading?
The future of literacy: Multimodal Reading paper, states: “Multimodal reading is not a threat to traditional literacy but a broadening of it. Print, digital, audio and visual forms each bring unique strengths. When homes validate everyday literacies, when schools embed them into pedagogy and when communities guarantee equitable access, children and young people experience a seamless literacy ecosystem.
“This integration offers more than skill development. It builds confidence, widens participation, supports wellbeing and prepares children and young people to navigate a world where reading is woven across platforms, media and contexts.”
It continues that a joined-up literacy strategy would ensure families are supported with resources, reassurance and access to diverse reading formats, schools are equipped with curriculum reform, teacher training and balanced pedagogies that integrate print, digital, audio and visual texts, and that libraries and communities act as hubs of access, inclusion and cultural celebration.
“The world is changing. Print is vital, but alone it is not enough,” the paper concludes. “We must keep pace with technological change, societal shifts and emerging trends in literacy to ensure that the next generation can thrive.”
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