25 librarians improved their critical thinking skills to better cope with challenges related to the media

Media education is done at the library, among other places, and library workers can and should have the necessary skills to help beneficiaries to navigate more easily and safely in the information space, to be able to distinguish fake news from correct and balanced ones, not to let themselves be manipulated and misinformed when they watch, listen, or read news in traditional or online media. This is what 25 employees of the municipal library “B.P. Hasdeu” from Chisinau and of its suburban branches convinced us of on September 26, when they participated in a Media Literacy Café meet-up organized by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC).

“Media education is becoming more and more important nowadays, because it is necessary for us, librarians, to constantly advance in understanding this concept, which is so much discussed, disputed, and sometimes misunderstood, since it is in continuous transformation, connection with other areas and sub-areas, becoming particularly vast and complex at the same time,” said Mariana Harjevschi, director of the library, in the opening of the event.

“With the development of information technologies, the work of libraries has changed a lot. New functions, new responsibilities, and, of course, new challenges have emerged, which you have to cope with. Given the important role you have in promoting education and learning in society, we would like this training to have a positive impact from the perspective that it will help you strengthen knowledge in the field of media literacy in an innovative, interesting, and accessible manner,” said Victoria Tataru, program coordinator at the IJC.

Journalist Ana Sârbu, lecturer at the Faculty of Journalism and Communication Sciences of the Moldova State University, trainer in this training, provided participants with several examples to illustrate what it means to be educated from a media perspective and why media skills are so needed today. The journalist explained what fake news is and what clues help figure out whether a piece of information is fake or fair and balanced. “It so happens that people tend to believe falsehoods that are quickly shared with the help of information technologies rather than to check and examine based on the indices of equidistant news. So, what do we do if we encounter fake or dubious news? First of all, we check the source and the author,” said Ana Sârbu, noting that fake news appears, mostly, on obscure clickbait sites, created specifically to mislead.

“Once they are exposed, both the news and the respective sites disappear. To make sure a piece of news is true, check that information on other sites you trust, find out who the journalist who wrote it is. If the information you are looking for is not found on the websites of specialized institutions or trustworthy media sources, be sure that you have a fake in front of you, and not a news story. It is 99% a fake news story, if you are asked to share it when you access it on the site,” Ana Sârbu explained.

Speaking about disinformation, manipulation, and propaganda, the trainer pointed out that the most unverified and untrue information circulates, in particular, in the online environment. “Fake news intentionally misinform. They are written and published in order to mislead, often with the aim of damaging the reputation of a person or institution, as well as for financial or political gain. A manipulative news story may be based on truth, but the way it is worded aims to convince you of what the author wants. Propaganda goes further, because it is a systematic method of manipulating perceptions and behavior in the direction desired by the propagandist. My advice: always check information on several independent and reliable sources. They are diversionists, who study our mentality, know our fears, and launch into the public space narratives that appeal to those fears. Pay attention to deep fakes, they are dangerous. Be vigilant about artificial intelligence, because it is a threat in our time. Carefully read, analyze, question. Critical thinking is the only way to feel more protected in relation to online information,” she concluded.

At the end of the Media Literacy Café meet-up, the employees of the “B.P. Hasdeu” library watched several videos made by the Independent Journalism Center, which strengthened the knowledge about what fake news is, who stands behind a media outlet, and how manipulation through media works. The participants appreciated the importance of the training and came up with some opinions.

Mircea Ciochină, “Onisifor Ghibu” library, Chisinau

“I find the training very important, because we need to make a careful selection of the news and information we provide to our readers. As a librarian, I will put into practice these new skills that I have acquired so that users and readers have access to quality information.

Stefanida Moșu, public library in Budesti village, Chisinau

“At today’s workshop I understood that there are many things that I do not know. Although I thought that I knew everything, along the way I realized that I know nothing (she smiles). The information was well structured, clear, useful, and I will definitely convey it to my colleagues. At the library, we provide various services to both children and adults. We need to know how to help them prevent certain risks in the online environment.”

Dorina Plescaci, library of the International Academic Center “Mihai Eminescu”, Chisinau

“For me, today’s event was a kind of refresh. When I was a student, I attended a media education course with journalist Diana Railean. I refreshed my knowledge and, at the same time, I learned new information, as I am at another age, and I also understood a lot differently. I think that from now on, I will be more attentive to the news I consume and also to the ingredients of the products I consume.”

Maia Stati-Șchiopu, “Adam Mickiewicz” library, Chisinau

“I sometimes use ChatGPT to structure certain information or to find inspiration. Deep-fake is a new notion for me, and artificial intelligence – it scared me, what I heard. The examples presented in the training made me think. Everything was useful, relevant, topical. We need critical thinking to analyze, understand which information is truthful and which misleads or manipulates us.”

Tamara Nicolaescu-Gore, “Târgu-Mureș” library, Chisinau

“It was a perfect training. I strive to keep up with all the news in the media field, but anyway, today I learned new things, useful, indispensable for our work. I am deeply grateful for the information you have shared with us, which we, in turn, will pass on to the beneficiaries of the library.”

The Media Literacy Café meet-up was organized within the project „Building cohesion in Moldova through promoting social inclusion and diminishing discrimination” implemented by the Independent Journalism Center within the program “Joint Equal Opportunity Initiative – Phase II” implemented with the support of the Government of Switzerland.