Media lab for bridging cross border gaps Erasmus Project

Project Title

Media lab for bridging cross border gaps

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Youth (Participation, Youth Work, Youth Policy) ; International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy

Project Summary

The rise of the Internet and, in particular, social media has profoundly changed the landscape of propaganda and fake news. With the constantly increasing flow of information received through the media and other information channels, the abilities to find information, understand and critically evaluate it, use it and also express one become more and more important. Young people are the ones who are most exposed to new media and at the same time the ones that often lack abilities to independently and critically evaluate what they encounter in the flow of media and information. Taking into account today’s political context in Europe, media literacy as such and especially education for youth becomes an extremely important field to focus on.
Participating countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Cyprus, Greece, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) are facing challenges that are very similar, but have different histories, professionalism and approach to media literacy in the society. Project is focused on existing cross – border gaps. Such as: different level of trust in media; different focus of implemented researches on media impact on youth; different focus of implemented media literacy measures: protection vs promotion; presence of media literacy in the compulsory education curriculum; media industry involvement in media literacy, etc.
Main objective of the project is to develop innovative tools and measures to deal with existing cross – border gaps in media literacy, develop and reinforce networks, increase their capacity to reach changes.
Project will focus on few innovations. We will prepare innovative intellectual outputs:
1. Digital suitcase of learning tools for youngsters on media literacy;
2. Analysis and recommendations on existing cross – border gaps on media literacy, with special focus how existing cross – border gaps on medial literacy affects youth as a special target group and what can we do with existing knowledge;
3. Tool – kit for impact assessment of implemented measures (tools, videos, training’s, etc.).
We don‘t want that any content of the project would be “locked in a drawer’, but we will ensure that there would be multipliers and practitioners, who will use it in practice. Content of prepared intellectual outputs will be used in organized trainings:
1. ”Better cross – border understanding of disinformation, propaganda and fake news” (C1): duration – 6 days; 5 participants from each partner country, total number of participants – 30; location – Macedonia.
2. “Educating critical thinking of youth through media literacy in local communities” (C2): duration – 6 days; 5 participants from each partner country, total number of participants – 30; location – Poland.
3. “Efficient planning and implementation of interventions for critical thinking of youth through media literacy” (C3): duration – 6 days; 5 participants from each partner country, total number of participants – 30; location – Cyprus.
Multiplier event will be organized. Conference for experienced communication professionals, working in the field of media literacy for youth: total number of participants – 80; location – Poland.
With this project, we are seeking for stronger and more active involvement of youth to support development of implemented media literacy activities or creating new and innovative ones. Youth will be involved:
1. Youth from each partner countries will be actively involved in rating gathered 30 free on – line learning tools for youth on media literacy.
2. Youth will be invited to participate in organized training “ Educating critical thinking of youth through media literacy in local communities” (C2).
Activities of the project supports the effective implementation of any investments in education of youngsters in media literacy. Supports the design of evidence-based reforms that deliver quality, innovation and relevance in youth. Supports the development of innovative ways to ensure sustainable investment in all forms of learning, both formal and non – formal, including performance – based funding and cost sharing.
Participants from different target groups (youth, communication professionals, journalists, trainers, youth workers, researchers, teachers, other practitioners, working in the field of media literacy for youth) will gain: new knowledge how to bring created intellectual outputs into practice on national and local levels; data and recommendations on existing cross – border gaps on medial literacy with specific focus on youth, for future changes implementation; new knowledge and tools to educate youth critical thinking through media literacy; new knowledge and experience about differences and existing gaps in media literacy among European Countries and how to deal with existing gaps; new tools & resources to evaluate, if their work is efficient and if it have reached wished changes in youth critical thinking through implemented activities; new contacts and cooperation possibilities.

Project Website

http://duomenys.ugdome.lt/?/mm/dry/med=166

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 111354,93 Eur

Project Coordinator

National Agency for Education & Country: LT

Project Partners

• Baltijas Mediju izcilibas centrs
• Zdruzenie na mladi analiticari i istrazuvaci, ZMAI Skopje
• TECHNOLOGIKO PANEPISTIMIO KYPROU
• MEDIA LITERACY INSTITUTE
• VSIA Latvijas Televizija
• Fundacja Reporterów