- Bosnian Educators and Journalists Explore Media Literacy Strategies in Prague: A Study Tour on Fighting Disinformation
A group of ten educators and journalists from Bosnia went on a study tour to Prague between 20 and 23 October to learn about methods of media and information literacy education in the Czech Republic. The visit took place as part of Media Smart: Building resilience to disinformation through training programs for journalists, educators and families, a project by Transitions and Mediacentar Sarajevo.
The group visited the elementary school Kunratice, where Tomáš Titěra, deputy director for digitization and project and financial management, presented the school’s MIL activities. They then had a meeting with representatives of the Czech Radio to learn about the project “Ověřovna a ověřovna na vlastní kůži” iRozhlas (stylized as iROZHLAS), an internet news server of the Czech Radio.
Táňa Abrhámová and Anja Grabovac presented to the group the activities of Central European Digital Media Observatory (CEDMO) an international academic consortium focusing on activities concerning digital transformation and information disruptions primarily in Central Europe.
On the second work day of the tour the group visited Seznam.cz, a unique internet news service, where Peter Jančárik presented the outlet’s efforts to evaluate media quality and fight disinformation, those relying on the use of artificial intelligence in particular.
The day ended with a visit to the City Library of Prague, where Veronika Spišáková presented librarians’ MIL initiatives.
Before their return to Bosnia, the group had an extended meeting with Transitions and Mediacentar to evaluate the visit and consider possible application of some of the methods of teaching MIL they learned about.
”It will be interesting to implement the ideas we got here. We will try to involve both the teachers and librarians at schools to help them adopt a new approach to teaching media literacy,” said Ivana Sivric of the Faculty of Philosophy in Mostar. “Study tours such as this one are enriching both professionally in terms of gaining knowledge and culturally,” added Ernad Osmic, a teacher at Fourth Elementary School in Brcko.
The Media Smart project is implemented with support from the Czech Republic’s Official Transition Program
- Inspiring Week in Scandinavia
October 7 – 11, 2024 – Three of our team members – Meenal Thakur and Lucie Černá from our SoJo Team and Blanka Doležalová, our financial manager, wrapped up an incredible week traveling through Copenhagen, Oslo, and Stockholm alongside 30 fellow editors and journalists from 15 countries, primarily from the Balkans region.
This study tour, organised by the Constructive Institute, as part of the larger SoJo Europe program, led by Transitions, was a journey of learning, exchange, and inspiration – all centered around constructive journalism as a catalyst for positive change in Scandinavia and how media practitioners in Central and Eastern Europe can draw inspiration from their Scandinavian counterparts.
The group visited key locations including a journalism conference at sea between Copenhagen and Oslo, the Nobel Peace Center, Rystad Energy, and NRK in Oslo; SVT and Gapminder in Stockholm; and Børsen, Politiken, and Zetland in Copenhagen.
The knowledge shared and connections made will continue to inspire us as we strive to reshape journalism for the better.
- Barcamp 2024: AI for seniors
On October 3-4, 2024, took place the fifth annual Barcamp event, organized by Transitions in collaboration with Elpida and supported by Google, focusing on enhancing media literacy among seniors. This year’s theme, ‘AI Hands-On,’ emphasized the opportunity for participants to try and explore various AI tools firsthand over two days. The event opened with a panel discussion moderated by Filip Titlbach, featuring leading figures in AI research and practice, such as Václav Moravec (journalist and educator), Lenka Kučerová (Prg.ai), Petr Gongala (Demagog.cz), and Ondřej Hrách (Aignos). This year also saw the introduction of the new ‘AI Senior Expert Group,’ which actively explores AI tools to uncover practical applications for older adults in daily life. Both Transitions and Elpida have successfully challenged myths about how seniors spend their free time and their relationship with technology, proving that older adults are eager to engage with modern advancements. The event also featured specialized workshops and a unique program for participants of the SEFTE (Senior Friendly Teacher) Lecturer Academy.
- Photo-gallery: First-ever European SoJo Summit in Prague
What an event! More than 70 solutions journalism enthusiasts from 30 countries gathered for two days in Prague at the end of September to connect, learn and share experience, insights and inspiration. They created a vibrant, thoughtful, and collaborative space where we all could share, learn, and grow together.
The “all teach, all learn” principle of the unconference made it a truly unique experience for all. The agenda was set by attendees reflecting their areas of interest. 64 breakout sessions were hosted by 50 participants. Two intense days full of exchange, new connections and ideas for shaping the future of journalism.
Thank you all for being with us!
- #ESJS2024 website
Exciting news! The website for the European Solutions Journalism Summit is now live, and registration is officially open! Join us as we break down barriers and foster a sense of belonging within the European solutions journalism community. Visit our website to learn more about the summit’s program, speakers, and to secure your spot.
sojosummit.transitionsmedia.org
- Updates from Sarajevo: Conference and New Project Kickoff
We recently hosted the “Navigating Influence in the News Arena: Regional Conference on Exploring Tactics to Resist Disinformation and Influence” in Sarajevo on June 24-25, 2024. Organized in partnership with SEENPM, this event was connected with the POINT conference, broadening topics and offering enhanced networking opportunities with regional and global experts. The conference featured discussions on the impact of malign foreign influence and workshops on how to cover this topic in newsrooms. Thirty-six media professionals, CSO activists, fact-checkers and academics from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Hungary, Czechia, and the United Kingdom participated.
“The topics discussed at the event generated significant interest as they were highly relevant to the participants. We examined the issues related to foreign influence from various angles, emphasizing the distinction between natural influence and malign influence that seeks to undermine democratic institutions and erode public trust,” said Jaroslav Valůch, news literacy coordinator at Transitions.
SEENPM, the project’s lead partner, is a network of 19 media centers and institutes across 13 countries of Central and Southeastern Europe. The project is supported by the National Endowment for Democracy.
We also used the opportunity to announce the kickoff of a new project focused on media literacy for seniors. This project is a partnership with Media Centar Sarajevo (Bosnia), Montenegro Media Institute, and Media Literacy Coalition (Bulgaria). It aims to equip older adults with the skills to navigate today’s media landscape. This is another exciting development in our goal of uplifting this marginalized demographic, which is a tenet of our programs across the region.
Both events included sessions sharing valuable experiences and lessons learned from Czechia, which foster new ideas for research and training. This paves the way for innovative approaches to counter disinformation and malign influence, and enhance media literacy. - Announcing the First Cohort of the SoJo Europe Program: A Diverse Collective of Newsrooms Driving Solutions Journalism Across Europe
We are thrilled to announce the selection of the first 10 newsrooms for the SoJo Europe program, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to foster solutions journalism across Europe. These newsrooms represent a diverse array of countries and media landscapes, each bringing unique perspectives and strengths to the program. This diversity is the cornerstone of the SoJo Europe program, promising rich, cross-border collaborations and a robust exchange of ideas that will significantly advance the practice and impact of solutions journalism in Europe.
We look forward to seeing the innovative stories and impactful collaborations that will emerge from this incredible cohort, and help redefine the landscape of European journalism. #SoJoEurope
- Maldita.es (Spain): A non-profit foundation, Maldita.es builds public trust by fighting disinformation and promoting transparency through journalism, education, technology, research, and policy action. A pioneering fact-checking organization, Maldita.es combats misinformation with a unique multi-platform approach. Known for its community engagement and robust media literacy programs, Maldita.es plays a crucial role among Spanish media.
- RADAR Magazine (Italy): An independent media outlet, RADAR Magazine covers the most important environmental crises of the present – climate change, global biodiversity loss, pollution – and their ripple effects on our society. RADAR strongly believes in a solutions journalism approach that highlights not only problems, but also solutions, and that is free and accessible to all.
- Ekonews (Czech Republic): Ekonews specializes in business and sustainability news, emphasizing the importance of green practices and economic development. The website is dedicated to informing and inspiring its audience about sustainable living and ethical business choices, focusing on a wide range of topics related to the climate crisis and sustainability for both companies and individuals.
- Radio FM99 (Lithuania): As one of Lithuania’s first commercial radio stations, Radio FM99 has a long-standing reputation for quality broadcasting. It covers a wide range of topics, focusing on life, politics, and culture in southern Lithuania, as well as civic activities and sports. It is still the only regional radio station in this part of the country, broadcasting in the Lithuanian language from Alytus, the sixth-largest city, and the biggest spa city Druskininkai.
- Vers Beton (Netherlands): An independent media platform, Vers Beton focuses on urban issues in the Dutch city of Rotterdam, providing in-depth local journalism. The website highlights city life and governance, fostering a better understanding of urban challenges and solutions and informs concerned Rotterdammers about developments in their city through facts, insights, and understanding. Vers Beton publishes mainly investigative stories, as well as podcasts.
- Slow News (Italy): Practicing slow journalism, Slow News is committed to providing well-researched, thoughtful stories by delving deeper, researching meticulously to provide news stories and analyses that break away from the rapid and often superficial news cycle dominating mainstream media today. Slow News prioritizes quality over speed, ensuring its reporting is thorough and impactful.
- Rubryka (Ukraine): As Ukraine’s first solutions journalism outlet, Rubryka focuses on reporting constructive stories that highlight innovative and practical solutions to societal problems, especially those emerging out of a conflict zone. Its work is crucial in a country undergoing significant transformation and challenges. Rubryka specializes in environmental issues, urbanism, women’s rights, and gender equality.
- Mensagem de Lisboa (Portugal): A community-based digital newsroom, Mensagem de Lisboa serves Lisbon with hyper-local news and issues critical to the city, such as urbanism, mobility, housing, and local government, using a solutions journalism lens. The newsroom emphasizes community engagement and storytelling that connects with local audiences on a personal level.
- Scena9 (Romania): A Romanian news outlet, Scena9 positions itself at the intersection between culture, journalism, and education and covers a wide range of cultural and societal issues. It publishes various types of articles, from reportages and interviews to reviews, investigations, and profiles. Scena9 is known for its creative storytelling and deep dives into the arts, culture, and social matters.
- Lavialibera (Italy): Lavialibera is dedicated to in-depth reporting and investigations on social issues. A paper and online magazine, the organization covers issues related to mafia groups, corruption, climate change, migration, and social movements.
- Inclusive Media Literacy: Engaging the Elderly Across the Visegrad Region
Join us for an online event that combines our insights and experiences from a collaborative media literacy project spanning the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary. Our project takes an audience-centred approach, emphasizing trust-building and participation to effectively address the specific needs of elderly people.
Led by our organizations – Transitions (Czechia), MEMO98 (Slovakia), The Association of Creative Initiatives “ę” (Poland), and the Center for Investigative Journalism (Hungary) – we will showcase the diverse strategies and lessons learned in promoting media literacy across different cultural and political contexts.
Through practical case studies and honest reflections, attendees will gain valuable insights into:
- How we tailored media literacy programs to the elderly/senior audience
- Our approaches to fostering engagement, trust, and participation among this demographic
- How we leveraged unique local contexts and experiences for greater impact
- Best practices for sustaining long-term Media Literacy Initiatives
To give you a taste of our approach, we’ve included a short video that showcases one of our activities, demonstrating how we engage elderly audiences.
Whether you are an educator, journalist, fact-checker, scholar, activist, or simply passionate about empowering vulnerable groups with media literacy skills, this event offers an invaluable opportunity to learn from our ground-level experiences working directly with this vital audience segment.
Join us for an enriching experience and take away actionable strategies to enhance your own media literacy efforts, particularly those targeting elderly and senior communities.
Date: June 12, 2024
Time: 2:30 PM CET
Please use this link to register for the ZOOM session.
This project was supported by the National Endowment for Democracy.
- Announcing the Inaugural European Solutions Journalism Summit!
Too often, passionate solutions journalism practitioners find themselves working in isolation, their valuable insights confined to silos. That ends now! Mark your calendars for a pivotal gathering that will redefine the landscape of European journalism. Join us as we break down barriers and foster a sense of belonging within the European solutions journalism community. #ESJS2024 Dates: 27-28 September 2024, Prague
More info https://transitionsmedia.org/sojosummit
- A Reflective Journey Through Solutions Journalism and Mentorship
In my journey into solutions journalism (SJ), I’ve encountered several distinct differences from traditional journalism. One of the most striking disparities lies in the narrative structure. While conventional journalism often focuses on highlighting problems and conflicts, SJ seeks to provide a balanced perspective by reporting on challenges and presenting potential solutions.
This shift in focus brings a refreshing perspective to storytelling, offering readers hope and empowerment. However, this approach also demands more profound research and analysis to uncover and evaluate practical solutions. While traditional journalism may find it relatively straightforward to report on issues, delving into solutions requires a more nuanced understanding of the context and the various stakeholders involved.
Throughout my journey with SJ, I’ve experienced several “aha moments” that have shaped my understanding and approach to storytelling, and one such moment occurred when I realized the transformative power of solutions-oriented reporting in inspiring positive change within communities. Witnessing the impact of stories that not only shed light on problems but also showcased tangible solutions reinforced my belief in the potential of journalism to drive meaningful social progress.
From my experience, I’ve gleaned valuable lessons to share with fellow journalists embarking on their own endeavors in solutions journalism. Firstly, I’d emphasize the importance of cultivating a solutions-oriented mindset, actively seeking out stories of innovation and resilience amid adversity. I’d also recommend fostering collaborative partnerships with stakeholders, including community members, experts, and organizations, to ensure comprehensive coverage and analysis of solutions. Lastly, I’d encourage journalists to maintain a critical yet optimistic approach, acknowledging the complexities of social issues while remaining committed to uncovering pathways to positive change.
Reflecting on my experience, I’m eager to pursue another SJ story driven by a passion for amplifying voices of hope and progress. I believe I will soon find an idea as inspiring as the story of the centers offering care and education to children with disabilities in Montenegro, which interested a worldwide audience.
Looking ahead, there are areas where support and improvement could enhance the effectiveness of SJ initiatives. Providing journalists with access to specialized training and resources tailored to SJ methodologies could improve their ability to effectively identify, analyze, and report on solutions. Additionally, fostering a supportive community of practice where journalists can exchange insights, share best practices, and collaborate on projects could contribute to the growth and sustainability of SJ as a transformative force in journalism.
This type of journalism has yet to take off in Montenegro, and we hardly have any training or workshops on this topic, although this would be extremely useful for journalists. Through my further work in the NGO sector, I intend to initiate this type of activity and training in future journalism projects. I will be happy to recommend that all young journalist colleagues follow the work of Transitions and consider applying for support for their own solutions-oriented stories.
In conclusion, my journey into solutions journalism has been both enlightening and empowering, offering a fresh perspective on the role of journalism in fostering positive social change. As I continue to navigate this dynamic field, I remain committed to upholding the principles of SJ and leveraging the power of storytelling to inspire a brighter, more hopeful future.
Finally, I would especially like to thank my mentors and editors at Transitions. They were very patient and ready to help at any time, and I am glad that I had the opportunity to learn from them.
All the best,
Teodora
Teodora Djurnic works for the Montenegro Media Institute, an organization that promotes higher standards of journalism, media literacy, and freedom of expression.
- Taktak Project: the Integrated Collaborative donation solution for Journalism
Eight European media organizations launched Taktak, a donation solution backed by the European Commission. Its aim: to create a new revenue stream for news media and journalists through collaborative reader donations per article, facilitated by user-friendly tech tools. It addresses the ongoing challenge of sustaining quality journalism with innovative economic models.
What is it?
The Taktak project, originally called Do-Jo, changed its name as it was associated with prominent international brands which would have certainly reduced its visibility. The project needs to have its own unique identity for the release of the product we aim to build and launch on the market. Tak meaning “Thank you” in Scandinavian languages, we felt like Taktak would better reflect the philosophy of the project. #TaktakSolution
The consortium’s diversity in scale and geographic coverage, which includes media covering individual cities (Mensagem in Lisbon, Pod Tepeto in Plovdiv in Bulgaria), countries (La Marea in Spain, Livy Bereg in Ukraine) and international (Worldcrunch) can bring the tool from local, regions, national and transnational levels. It can create solutions that address the needs of the youngest journalists who must face the risks of job and income instability in the future.
As a project, the objective of the Taktak solution is to increase revenue and promote quality journalism by fusing three key realities in the current economic context of the industry:
1. the collaborative relationship between media and freelance journalists, who hold an increasingly important place in the news ecosystem as staff positions are reduced;
2. the untapped opportunities of media working together on joint reporting efforts, and across languages;
3. the growth in direct reader revenue, in particular in the form of donations.
The goal is to build an innovative technology donationpayment and revenue-share solution based on their existing needs and experience and integrate consolidated insights from the industry to be able to scale up the solution throughout Europe, and beyond.
By combining donation on a per-article basis with revenue share between parties, Taktak will encourage both journalists and media to commit to producing the kind of high-quality and diverse coverage that has proven to trigger more donation revenue.
Thanks to a new revenue stream and a direct connection with readers through donation features, the Taktak project’s secondary objectives are to encourage the production of more quality journalism, collaboration between different actors, a diversity of voices and plurality of media, increase engagement with readers, foster resilience and share best practices across the partners of consortium and the sector.
By combining donations on a per-article basis with revenue share between parties, Taktak will encourage both journalists and media to commit to producing the kind of high-quality and diverse coverage that has proven to trigger more donation revenue.
For whom?
Freelance journalists seeking to collaborate on a new revenue model that embraces post-advertising dynamics and prioritizes direct reader relationships while considering authors’ needs.
Budget
The Taktak project involves investing €1,376,040 over 2 years. This funding will directly benefit 5 independent news media outlets, their journalists, 2 news media associations, and the project’s technological partner. The European Commission will provide 80% (€1,100,832) of the funding through the Journalism Partnerships – Collaboration call, with the remaining 20% (€275,208) coming from the Taktak consortium partners’ own funds.
Consortium members
The jury will assess the applications based on the following criteria:
ATC
Founded in 1987, ATC (www.atc.gr) is an Information Technology Company (SME) offering solutions and services in specific business sectors, including the Media, Banking, and the Public Sector, developed on the latest technologies for Content Management, Enterprise Software, Web and Mobile Applications.
One of the primary commercial activities for ATC is the development of products and services for the media market, in which they have customers in several EU countries, Eastern Europe, the CIS countries, and the Balkans. Particularly in recent years, they have acknowledged misinformation as a major issue and have focused their work on designing tools to help media practitioners tackle the phenomenon. Since June 2020, ATC is part of the European Digital Media Observatory (www.edmo.eu) providing the technical infrastructure (based on Truly Media, the collaborative verification platform developed by ATC and Deutsche Welle) that supports EDMO’s communities of fact-checkers and researchers in studying and analyzing disinformation.
Since 2011, ATC has participated in several EU funded projects that deal with mis- and disinformation and social media analysis, through which they have acquired a more targeted experience in relevant technologies used to monitor and analyze disinformation. Some of these results have turned into products that are used by broadcasters, news agencies, and journalists worldwide to verify and fact-check online content. Finally, their market position as a commercial software provider in the media industry and their long term involvement in large scale R&I media projects have equipped them with a solid knowledge of how to design systems and products that are useful to and cover the needs of media professionals working in the disinformation domain.
La Marea
La Marea is a leading independent Spanish magazine focused on human rights and politics, launched through a crowdfunding campaign in 2012 in Madrid, Spain. Currently the media has a bimonthly print edition and online presence, with over 4,000 subscribers.
Since La Marea was born, it has enabled readers’ donations through the articles published online and has also launched 6 specific crowdfunding campaigns, including one in collaboration with another media. During its last crowd-funding campaign La Marea has raised more than 285 000 euros of revenue – leading, at that time, the ranking of number of patrons on the Goteo crowdfunding platform, Spain’s most influential-. Moreover, the cooperative behind the media is funded primarily by its readers and shareholders. Overall, more than 200 freelancers have collaborated with La Marea over the past ten years.
Livy Bereg
LB.UA (Leviy Bereg) is an independent Ukrainian mass media. LB.ua has been covering social and political developments in Ukraine since 2009. The website is updated simultaneously in Ukrainian and English languages. LB.UA has more than 5 million unique visitors per month.
Over the years the website has featured thousands of articles, investigations and interviews, many of which have had a direct impact on key political decisions in the country. The independence of our publication is our main value. And the support of our readers is our pride and responsibility.
LB.UA has a YouTube channel LB Live. The team produces interviews with top Ukrainian politicians, opinion leaders, volunteers, military, etc. LB Live also makes documentary films.
LB.UA is regularly cited by both national and international mass media outlets.
Mensagem de Lisboa
Mensagem de Lisboa is a hiper-local, digital and community journalism project, based in a café in the historic downtown of Lisboa, aiming to connect all parts of the city. It was founded in 2021 by a diverse small team (age diverse, genre diverse and origin diverse), with the firm idea of bringing a new constructive and inspirational form of local journalism to a capital city that can sometimes be a news desert. Its motto is to promote empathy through knowledge and it covers all the metropolitan areas regarding urban matters (development, environment, mobility), social matters (housing, equality, poverty), cultural (history, urban studies, arts), and communities (underserved, expats, ethnically diverse.) It’s funded by a main backer – an entrepreneur in Lisbon – and it relies on donations and special sponsored projects.
Pod Tepeto
Founded in 2009 by journalists Ivaylo Dernev and Dimitar Semkov, Pod tepeto is a pioneering digital media outlet that was established in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. It was one of the first regional media organizations in the country and has since remained dedicated to providing unbiased and independent news coverage. The newsroom has won numerous awards for its exceptional journalism, including the Plovdiv Award, the Courageous Reporters Award, and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and SBZ Award. The influence of Pod tepeto extends beyond its regional base and is regularly cited by national news channels.
Transitions
Transitions is a non-profit organization based in Prague in 1999, established to strengthen the professionalism, independence and impact of news media, especially in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). We do this through a combination of journalism and media training programs, and the publication of Transitions magazine. Our mission is to support high-quality, independent journalism and foster an informed and engaged public. We have developed our own online learning platform for both mentored and self-learning courses and regularly run webinars and workshops. More than 10,000 people have passed through our training programs, including journalism students and journalists under-30, with courses specializing in traditional journalism skills; the latest digital techniques; media literacy; and combatting disinformation.
WAN-IFRA
WAN-IFRA, the World Association of News Publishers, is the global organisation of the world’s press. Its mission is to protect the rights of journalists and publishers around the world to operate independent media. We provide our members with expertise and services to innovate and prosper in a digital world and perform their crucial role in society. It derives its authority from its global network of 3,000 news publishing companies and technology entrepreneurs, and its legitimacy from its 60 member publisher associations representing 18,000 publications in 120 countries. See more at wan-ifra.org.
WorldcrunchWorldcrunch is a Paris-based digital magazine which delivers the best international journalism in English for the first time, by working in partnership with the world’s top media sources (Die Welt, Les Echos, Jeune Afrique, Kommersant, 端傳媒; El Espectador and 25+ others) and a team of multilingual journalists and translators to publish exclusive reportage and provide a uniquely global view of events.
Project updates
November 6, 2024
Help us understand your profession. Respond to our survey on journalism! The survey is available in 13 languages and should take no longer than 5 minutes! ➡️ Respond here.
July 25, 2024
🗞️Taktak newsletter
To stay in the loop, sign up for the Taktak newsletter. Also do not miss our session on monetizing journalism at our Solution Journalism Summit in September, where we will touch the Taktak solution base as well! #TaktakSolution
June 18, 2024
The Taktak website is now available! In the past few months our consortium of partners have started to shape and define key non/functional requirements which we would like to be developed for the prototype version of the Taktak solution. For better understanding the needs, we conducted a survey in 13 languages for potential users regarding the potential features and functionalities of Taktak. We have also reached out to potential technology partners and we will continue to do so in the coming months in order to find the functionality / price fit for our solution.
- An online session to learn about climate-solutions reporting and our grant program
In recent years, we’ve put in a lot of effort to challenge and change the way journalism has been traditionally practiced to create awareness about a more holistic approach to storytelling – a way forward that shows the “whole” story by breaking away from negative, problem-centric reporting to more nuanced, evidence-based, solutions-focused journalism.
We are proud and excited to announce the launch of a two-year support program to stimulate the production of cross-border, solutions-oriented, and investigative reporting across Europe. This first-of-its-kind program brings an opportunity to European newsrooms to collaborate and innovate! With this project, we are looking to recruit a total of 18 newsrooms that can earn up to 40,000 euros of grant funding along with training and mentoring support. What are the benefits you ask? More details can be found here.
Are you interested in applying for the SoJo Europe program and learning about climate-solutions journalism? Then join our online session with Transition’s Executive Director Jeremy Druker, solutions journalism trainer, Meenal Thakur, and freelance climate journalist, Florence Gault.
In this session, you will:
- Learn the basics of solutions journalism;
- Find out the details of the grant program and how to apply;
- Hear some secrets to fostering deeper connections and engagement with your readers;
- Delve into the realm of climate-focused solutions journalism; and
- Discover innovative storytelling techniques to highlight effective responses to the climate crisis.
🗓️ Save the Date:
📅 Date: 13th March
🕒 Time: 4-5 pm CET
🖥️ Where: Register here.
Reserve your spot now and embark on a journey towards more impactful journalism!
- Empowering Elders: A Media Literacy Journey from V4 to the Balkans
Countering Disinformation among Vulnerable Populations
Project Summary:
The “Empowering Elders: Media Literacy Journey from V4 to the Balkans” project, led by Transitions in collaboration with V4 region experts, is a two-year initiative designed to enhance media literacy among senior citizens in Bosnia, Bulgaria, and Montenegro. Recognizing that this demographic is often overlooked in media education activities and more vulnerable to disinformation and propaganda, the project aims to bolster their resilience by equipping them with critical media literacy skills. In addition to empowering seniors, this initiative aims to build the capacity of local partners to deliver effective media literacy interventions, helping to create an environment that values and promotes quality journalism.
The project will employ proven methodologies drawn from successful media literacy models in the V4 region, utilizing a range of activities such as interactive workshops, training programs, and resource development. By fostering a community of skilled media literacy trainers, enhancing digital confidence among seniors, and facilitating the sharing of best practices across the region, the initiative is poised to establish sustainable structures and networks for media education. The ultimate objective is to cultivate a resilient, well-informed media landscape that fosters democratic growth and reduces the vulnerability of senior citizens to misinformation and societal polarization.
Project Activities:
In 2024-26, Transitions Online and its partners in Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria will utilize NED support to:
• Conduct a baseline study in each targeted country to tailor the methodology to local contexts.
• Convene 36 interactive sessions (12 per country) for at least 540 seniors to expose them to the nature of disinformation and techniques for confident digital navigation. Each event will include a combination of workshops, discussions and hands-on exercises. They will cover topics such as: introduction to media literacy, basics of fact-checking, digital security, disinformation techniques and propaganda, hate speech, understanding journalism among others.
• Conduct one full day Training of Trainers event in each participating country, engaging eight participants each in Bulgaria and Bosnia and Herzegovina and six in Montenegro. During the course, participants will receive intensive training and mentoring, which will enable them to conduct senior media education activities on their own.
• Upgrade existing educational resources and create new ones based on needs assessments conducted in each country, to facilitate workshops and events. These resources will be designed in senior-friendly formats and comprise interactive guides, multimedia content, engaging activities and real-world examples. At least three instruction materials will be developed and distributed in each country.
• Strengthen the community of media literacy practitioners, through a kick-off event in Sarajevo and a Barcamp event towards the end of the second year. This will enable the formation of a vibrant community of media literacy practitioners in each country and foster continuous exchange of knowledge and best practices among practitioners.
Project Partners:
Media Literacy Coalition (Bulgaria): https://gramoten.li/en/home/
Media and Civil Society Development Foundation “Mediacentar” (Bosnia) : https://media.ba/bs
Montenegro Media Institute (MMI): https://www.mminstitute.org/en/
© Transitions Online 2020. All rights reserved. ISSN 1214-1615
Published by Transitions o.s., Baranova 33, 130 00 Prague 3, Czech Republic.