Our Media: A civil society action to generate media literacy and activism, counter polarization and promote dialogue
Aims and goals:
- Contribution to enhanced regional cooperation and reinforced media freedom and media integrity in the Western Balkans and Turkey (WBT).
- Increased media activism and participation of CSOs in policymaking.
- Increased capacity of media CSOs and other CSOs in urban and rural areas to generate effective media and information literacy (MIL) practices.
- Media professionals and self-regulatory bodies encouraged to assume greater responsibility for promotion of MIL.
- Citizens, the youth in particular, empowered to engage in media freedom activism to counter polarisation.
- Raised awareness of key media stakeholders on upcoming trends, opportunities, and risks for future of media in the WBT region and how to proactively address them.
The primary focus of the three-year project Our Media is on strengthening the capacities of CSOs, media professionals, young activists and citizens to improve their understanding of trends and challenges regarding media freedom and media integrity as well as media development and sustainability in the Western Balkans and Turkey.
The project opens with research activities that will seek to identify the main trends, risks and opportunities for media sustainability in the region, and map good practices in media activism in support of media freedom and media and information literacy (MIL). The research findings will be used to strengthen capacities of media CSOs and other stakeholders for addressing challenges in media sector.
Professional capacity of journalists, media outlets and media institutions will be addressed through targeted advocacy activities and engagement in national MIL coalitions. Through media activism, local and national media and other actors will be challenged to address gender inequalities in the media. Young leaders will be empowered to challenge harmful policies and practices, counter discrimination and gender stereotypes, and promote gender equality through their future work. Through financial support to CSOs in urban and rural areas, the project will reach out to local communities with a view to advancing MIL skills of citizens, promoting media freedom and integrity and countering polarisation that stems from propaganda, hate speech and disinformation.
The Project in Numbers
200 CSO representatives will be directly empowered to generate effective MIL practices and at least 18 CSOs in urban and rural areas in six countries will be supported to reach out locally and create MIL actions.
70 media professionals and representatives of self-regulatory bodies will learn about the state of self-regulation in their countries and the WB region, and how to advance codes of ethics and self-regulation standards/practices.
15.000 young people will take part in and learn through interactive MIL quizzes; at least 500 will be empowered in national MIL coalition actions.
21 young people (activists, youth workers, educators, journalists, young politicians) will improve competence for media literacy and activism, including topics like media freedom and integrity, political economy of media, media ecology, digital participation.
Partners:
Funders:
Funded by the European Union.