Media and Information Literacy Project LAB in Tallinn, Estonia

SALTO Participation and Information Resource Centre (SALTO PI) has initiated a project on Media and Information Literacy (MIL) and is developing a set of activities and resources to improve MIL skills of young people, youth activists, youth leaders and youth workers.

On the 28th–30th of August 2019 (arrivals on the 27th of August), about 40 participants will come together in Tallinn to meet media experts, learn about Media and Information Literacy, share ideas and experiences and develop their ideas for real projects that could make a difference! Participants will "hack MIL" and come up with useful, practical and creative project ideas and concepts on MIL. Those with existing ideas can further develop their concepts and project plans to increase the chances of funding. The programme is being developed together with National Agencies, Erasmus+ advisors, Media and Information Literacy experts.

The goals of the Project Lab is to inspire each other, introduce what is MIL, showcase creative and interesting projects and to support and encourage the start of quality projects. 

Why is Media and Information Literacy important?

EU Youth Strategy emphasises the need for equipping youth with digital skills and fostering critical thinking and media literacy. The strategy states that digital technologies have revolutionised young people’s lives in many ways and policies need to consider both opportunities and challenges, by tapping the potential of social media, equipping youth with digital skills and fostering critical thinking and media literacy.

With “Content marketing”, data related challenges, "fake news" and overflow of information, even media professionals struggle time after time with manipulation. Online media’s triumph has created a very quick flow of news and “click baits”. This is often overshadowing critical thinking, pluralism, balanced information and accuracy.

If educators and youth leaders wish to tackle these issues, they need training, support and tools to improve media literacy. It should begin first with the “multipliers” and then spread to children and young people. Most of all, there is no participation without information! The quality of information and skills to analyse also determine the quality of participation of citizens in decision making processes.

This is why a training programme for “multipliers” is needed. As a result, we hope to see more media related projects be promoted within Erasmus+ programme, which will also give tools and means to become more successful in communicating and promoting youth participation.

What we will do?

• Discuss with experts and media professionals
• Learn more about Media and Information 
• Brainstorm and develop project ideas and concepts
• Get support and consultation for project planning, funding, communication, etc.
• Learn about inspirational practices and meet other "doers" in the field
• Get things going! This is your possibility to start your project and make critical thinking great again!

The full programme will be published by the end of July.