IJC launches the first media literacy forum in Moldova: “In the age of information warfare, critical thinking is especially important”
On the 17th of September, the Independent Journalism Center (IJC) launched the first Moldova Media Literacy Forum. At the start of the event – which is held in our country for the first time – opening speeches highlighted the importance of Media Education for the young generation, the development of critical thinking for information analysis, and the role of teachers in this process.
IJC’s intention was to bring together, in Chisinau, teachers of the Media Education optional course and local and foreign experts to discuss the latest developments in the area, adopt the experience of neighboring countries and examine the prospects of this new subject in Moldova.
At the event’s launching session, Nadine Gogu, IJC’s Executive Director, spoke about the significance of media literacy in the context of the current global information conflicts and the context in which the Independent Journalism Center started promoting and developing this concept. “Our plan is to help media consumers develop critical thinking. In our age of Internet expansion and all-encompassing information warfare, critical thinking is of special relevance for the youth, as well as for adults”, said Nadine Gogu.
She added that IJC has trained hundreds of teachers in this area, and thousands of Moldovan pupils have studied Media Education so far, using textbooks developed under the organization’s auspices. “In the last years, Moldova has been a successful case study at international forums due to the relevant experience it has gained, especially in the region”, said Nadine Gogu, mentioning that it was also due to partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research and the support provided by foreign partners.
Valentin Crudu, Director of the General Education Department at the Ministry of Education and Research, underlined that “this optional course appeared at the right time when it was so much sought for”. The official noted that IJC has not stopped at creating media literacy products, but continued to work by training teachers. “The subject of Media Education aims to develop certain competencies in future generations – we are talking about the ability to make assessments and to think critically. (…) The outcome is the knowledge that pupils gain after the course. It is becoming very interesting”, added Valentin Crudu.
Corina Cepoi, Director of Internews Moldova, specified that her organization equally supported media and information literacy and the independent press to help young people make informed decisions in life. “It is essential, of course, that we teach them to think critically, to rely on facts and to know where to look for information so they can make everyday decisions, especially in view of the pandemic. This situation showed us how important it is to have partners both among non-profit organizations and among media outlets”, stated Corina Cepoi. Another aspect, she added, concerns children’s online safety: “Critical thinking is essential in our days, especially for future active citizens. In our case, it often happens that high school students already vote in elections”.
Scott Hocklander, Head of USAID Mission, explained during a web appearance that the USA supports Moldova in promoting media education, among other things, for the purpose of counteracting disinformation. “One of the main goals of USAID in Moldova is to back up the development of a literate society that can tell between what is real and what is made up by ill-meaning external stakeholders”, mentioned Scott Hocklander.
Another speaker, Steven Fisher, British Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, was delighted that “due to UK’s assistance in the Media-M program, over 400 journalists have attended training sessions and over 620 pupils from nine Moldovan regions have participated in the optional Media Education course developed by the Independent Journalism Center”. “Hopefully, media literacy will help gradually change people’s views on the role of the media, from the provision of universal access to information to a philosophy and a culture of information exchange and critical thinking. Most importantly, media literacy programs can successfully change attitudes and behaviors. As a consequence, most Moldovan citizens, regardless of their social status and ethnicity, will be better prepared to face the challenges – and understand the opportunities – of living in an information-rich society”, said Steven Fisher.
The opening session of the Moldova Media Literacy Forum is followed by a number of discussions and masterclasses. The organizers say that the event’s activities will lead to the development of a Moldova Media Literacy Forum Resolution which, once approved, will be submitted to the Ministry of Education and Research.
Moldova Media Literacy Forum, organized by the Independent Journalism Center, is part of the Media Enabling Democracy, Inclusion and Accountability in Moldova (MEDIA-M) project implemented by Internews Moldova and funded by USAID and UK Aid. The event is also partnered by Deutsche Welle Akademie.
