IJC workshop: Implementation of the Interministerial Plan for Media and Information Literacy, in dialog with representatives of youth centers

The Independent Journalism Center (IJC) continues the series of workshops related to the implementation of the actions included in the Interministerial Plan for the Integration of Media and Information Literacy Actions, approved by the Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Culture in May 2024. On November 8, at the second online workshop, the IJC discussed the actions from the document with over 15 representatives of youth centers from around the country.  

“The intention of the document is to join our efforts so as to intervene on the subject of media and information literacy, critical thinking, consumption of qualitative information. The plan covers several directions, and we will focus on what we can do best through youth centers, to make sure that we have a greater impact,” said Marcel Marin, head of the Youth and Sport Policy Department of the Ministry of Education and Research.

The expert Angela Vacaru, who, together with the IJC, coordinated the development of the Interministerial Plan for the Integration of Media and Information Literacy Actions, explained that the document aims, through the proposed actions, to increase the level of critical thinking among different categories of citizens. “We intended to include in this plan achievable actions, on the one hand ambitious, but taking into account the context we are in and the resources we have. Another principle was to see what programs, infrastructure, actions are included in the plans of the relevant ministries and other relevant state structures. Instead of creating something separate, we wanted to see where we can include actions that might contribute to the development and increase of the level of media and information literacy of different categories of citizens. We want to keep this plan ‘living’, that is, to include new actions if it is relevant and change other actions in accordance with the context,” Angela Vacaru said.

Representatives of youth centers who participated in the discussion expressed their openness to contribute to the implementation of the actions included in the plan.

“Training should start with employees in the field of youth. These qualification programs need to be truly innovative. We can read theory ourselves. We need practice and case studies, so that, in our turn, to be able to implement these exercises in our work with young people,” said Elena Burlacu, head of the Municipal Youth Center from Ungheni.

“We need training as practical as possible, so as to show the effect of dissemination of information. It would work best with young people. Youth centers, through their activities, try to promote certain behaviors. Online protection and responsible consumption of information could be a red thread in our activity,” said Anatol Reghiment, senior specialist at the National Agency for Youth, an administrative authority under the Ministry of Education and Research.

The Interministerial Plan for the Integration of Media and Information Literacy Actions was developed by the Independent Journalism Center with the support of the International Media Support (IMS) from Denmark. The document is implemented by the Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Culture with the support of implementing partners from relevant state institutions and civil society organizations.

The first workshop was organized for representatives of local specialized bodies in the field of education from all over the country.

This activity was organized within the project “Responding, Expanding and Acting on Disinformation” (READ), implemented jointly by International Media Support (IMS) and the Independent Journalism Center (IJC), with the financial support of the European Union.