MEDEA - Developing Media Literacy to debunk gender-related media manipulation and fake news

OBJECTIVE 1: Providing media literacy tools to promote mindful and responsible media consumption and production. This is directly connected to the ADU priority “Improving the availability of high-...

OBJECTIVE 1: Providing media literacy tools to promote mindful and responsible media consumption and production. This is directly connected to the ADU priority “Improving the availability of high-quality, flexible and recognized learning for adults,” as it will create an innovative curriculum to develop and strengthen media education and awareness in line with both European and CML (Center for Media Literacy) Guidelines and Frameworks. OBJECTIVE 2: raising awareness and fighting Tech-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV). TFGBV is any violent act that is committed, assisted, aggravated, or amplified by the use of technologies or other digital tools that is directed against women because they are women and/or that affects women disproportionately. This is directly connected to the transversal priority “Inclusion and diversity”. TFGBV is defined by UN Women as a violation of Human Rights that «can restrict the online activity of women and girls and inhibit their access to the Internet—increasing the digital gender divide and restricting women’s voices in public participation […] and can also exacerbate offline forms of violence». These are the points of view considered in MEDEA: Awareness and Action.

The three main activities implemented in the project were: A.1) a Toolkit complete with guidelines on the necessary soft skills and attitudes to prevent the spread of fake news and news manipulation. The preparation of the Toolkit involved organising focus groups in Latvia, Italy, and Serbia, studying recent publications, documents, and statistics on the theme, and discussing the topic with participants in local seminars. There were also six articles elaborated based on the gathered information, all of which are available on the website developed within the framework of the project: https://www.jelgavaszontaklubs.lv/projects/medeaerasmus/. A.2) an LTTA to train and educate on the matter of media consumption and TFGBV - all the partners participated in the activity - there were journalists, young people, adult trainers, and several other target groups represented; A.3) a pilot testing campaign, online and through seminars and events, to encourage youth to take action and take a stance against TFGBV. The pilot testing campaign and workshops attracted more people than planned, as attendees found the problem to be up-to-date and engaging. Several institutions invited the coordinator to present the findings.

Activity 1: 1)3 Focus Group Reports. 2) 1 MEDEA Toolkit (4 languages), 3) Set of Guidelines (4 languages). Activity 2: 1)1 Learning Teaching Training Activity (LTTA) - 3-day session covered by the Media Literacy Toolkit (A1): Meta-Level Critical Thinking skills, Media Literacy (media production and consumption), Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence, and how to prevent it. 2) 15 people trained, of which: 9 journalists and educators from NSSJ, trainers and stakeholders from Skill Up, an3 trainers and stakeholders from Zonta. Activity 3: 1) min.185 young adults in total reached and/or trained during the Pilot Testing 2) 3 reports on the Pilot Testing containing the results and insights acquired during and after the Testing sessions 3) 35 participants at the Final Event + the recording of the event disseminated, leading to 90 participants 4) 3 External Evaluation Reports, submitted by the external evaluators selected by the partners during the course of the project 5) 4 Newsletters in English, translated in Italian, Serbian and Latvian 6) More than 60 social media posts 7) 6 articles elaborated and published on website and EPALE 8) Min. 30000 people reached on social media 9) Min. 360 people reached via the Newsletters