Media and Information Literacy as a Tool to Build Trust in the Media

EU Info Centre, Belgrade, 13. October 2016

MIL Conference in EUIC, Serbia, October 2016

Media Education Centre is in the implementation of the “Building Trust in Media in SEE and Turkey” (EC-UNESCO funded project). As part of activities is Conference “Media and Information Literacy as a Tool to Build Trust in the Media” was held in Belgrade 13th of October 2016 in the EU Info Centre.

MIL Conference in EUIC, Serbia, October 2016
MIL Conference in EUIC, Serbia, October 2016
Ivana Jelaca, Media Diversity Institute Western Balkans
MIL Conference in EUIC, Serbia, October 2016
MIL Conference in EUIC, Serbia, October 2016
MIL Conference in EUIC, Serbia, October 2016
MIL Conference in EUIC, Serbia, October 2016
MIL Conference in EUIC, Serbia, October 2016
MIL Conference in EUIC, Serbia, October 2016
MIL Conference in EUIC, Serbia, October 2016
MIL Conference in EUIC, Serbia, October 2016
MIL Conference in EUIC, Serbia, October 2016
MIL Conference in EUIC, Serbia, October 2016

Media and Information Literacy (MIL) is fresh educational initiatives, a pedagogical approach that take into consideration the new cultures emerging from the Media and Information Society. The approach to media and information literacy education must be fresh, innovative, inclusive, open and social responsible. This Conference presented possibility of the Public-CSO close cooperation on the implementation of the projects for wide benefit for all citizens. Media Education Centre work on enhancing media and information literacy (MIL) as well as intercultural competencies among citizens because it is a key action of UNESCO’s strategy to promote knowledge societies and foster the development of free, independent and pluralistic media and universal access to information and knowledge for good governance. This activity is organized in the framework of the EU-UNESCO funded Project “Building Trust in Media in South East Europe and Turkey.

Maja Zari?, Ministry of Culture and Information

Ministry of Culture and Information recognized importance of this issue 2010 when started IPA project about empowerment of the freedom in media. In the period 2013-2016 it was many activities and campaigns with the media literacy in the focus. The basic document is from 2011: Strategy of the Development of the Public Information System in Republic of Serbia with chapter about strategic principle of the development of Media Literacy. Thanks to this documents we have Media Literacy in the Law about Public Information and Media, Law about Public Media, Law about Elementary Education and Law about Adult Education. It is very important all activities empower skills and knowledge of all citizens in field of media literacy, especially having in mind that all participants in the convergent media space have to understand contexts, messages and content of the media they produce and consume and it is very important responsible relationship between participants in the media environment.

Vesna Peri? Zimonji?, Journalist

It’s not hard to conclude that the young, of all ages today, are able to access unimaginable choice of content, thanks to the internet. This brings us to the new question: are the media and information literacy (MIL) levels, in current form that can be described as superficial, sufficient for the young people in order to enable them to cope with contents that are being offered.

Not everyone wants to see photos or footage made by mobile phones or to participate in the online life via social networks. Being the users of such media content, they are not sufficiently equipped to tell important from unimportant among the offered things: they are also unaware that they can and should put just a little effort to develop the skills that are needed in such sense. This is why I believe that there is place and space for the MIL among the young. This is because they don’t have to be only the passive users of media content: to much larger extent, they can become creators, active participants in invasion of media space – either in the ways they are interested in or in the ways they want to.

Katarina Subasic, Journalist, AFP

Katarina Subasic, Journalist, AFP: Key role of media is to transfer information and knowledge important for development of the citizen’s order levaquin online activism. Participation of the citizens in the democratic processes is in the direct relation with media literacy level. This is the reason why we would like to establish Media Monitoring Group, association wiling to include representatives from different association, groups of citizens, civil society organization, young people, national minorities, ethnic groups, marginalized groups, rural population… all citizens in Serbia and to motivate them (with support of media professionals) to critically evaluate media content and (on the practical examples) support and promote process of the development of the media and information literacy and support necessary education for all citizens. Goal of the MMG is to motivate citizens to understand their rights and possibilities to have influence on the media content in connection with their necessity, to encourage citizens to inform about their opinion of the non-correct media reports. Media Monitoring Group will research some of this examples and report about professional and ethic level.

Ivana Jelaca, Media Diversity Institute Western Balkans

Ivana Jelaca, representative of the Media Diversity Institute Western Balkans: Our strategic focus is promotion of the Media and Information Literacy with young people from different social groups like a primary target group. MIL is wide space and MID WB has three focus activities: development of the Critical Understanding of the Media Content, skills in the search for information and building capacity of the young people to become producers of the Media Content. Especially is important to fighting against speech of hate and MID WB developed project with goal to empower sens of young generation about hate speech and to create anti-narratives to Speech of Hate. Ivana remember us that even we think that young generation is very sensible, we have research that adult population also don’t have enough critical capacity in connection with media. She underline that media and information literacy has same importance in the programs for schools but also in education for all age groups.

Mila Lukic, KOMS

Mila Lukic, KOMS: 82% of young generation think that it is not enough space in media space for them. It is difference between National and Local Media in reporting about youngsters. national Media take care about general issues for wider society and information in the country, local media has interest to present also successful youngsters from their community. We can see this in the programs of the local radio and TV station. It is why is important to straighten capacity of the media in field of the youth policy, interest and benefit for youth. this is reason why KOMS is interested to accept invitation of the Media Education Centre to join forces in the strategic partnership network and to cooperate in the development of the Media and Information Literacy in Serbia. KOMS is the National Youth Umbrella Association and will participate in the future activities to support successful implementation.

Ervin Er?s, Director, CESCI Balkans: In all our activities we are promoting and supporting cross-border, trans national and regional cooperation. In our long term plan, all activities must be contribution to the democratization. Democracy is not possible without freedom and pluralism of media and this is not possible without media and information literacy for all citizens. This is main reason why we join the Media Education Centre Initiative of Strategic Partnership: we have similar interests and goals and we are supporting the same social values important for development of the democratic society in Serbia and in all Region.

Media and Information Literacy as a Tool to Build Trust in the Media from MEC on Vimeo.

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