Media Literacy Education

Read the full lesson content from the link above.

A short video explaining the meaning of the notions media and communication. 

Prezi presentation of the lecture can be found here.    

So, what are these media and, more specifically, mass media that are so important today?
In order to grasp the role of the media, we need first to understand the role of media in the process of communication. The term media comes from a Latin word medium, which means something in between. In the process of communication, media is thus something that mediates, something that connects or transmits messages or participants in communication.
A classical model of communication, as described by a Russian-born linguist Roman Jakobson, has 2 basic constituents:

Read the full lesson content from the link above.

This short, 5-questions Kahoot quiz 

contains questions related to the lesson 

on communication and (mass) media.

A short video lecture explaining the notion of media literacy. 

 Prezi presentation of the lecture can be found here.    

Read the full lesson content from the link above.

Reading - Paris 2007 Declaration on Media Education

UNESCO takes Media literacy seriously!

Already in 1982, UNESCO made a so-called Grunewald Declaration, stating:

‘We live in a world where media are omnipresent: an increasing number of people spend a great deal of time watching television, reading newspapers and magazines, playing records and listening to the radio. In some countries, for example, children already spend more time watching television than they do attending school.’

‘Rather than condemn or endorse the undoubted power of the media, we need to accept their significant impact and penetration throughout the world as an established fact, and also appreciate their importance as an element of culture in today’s world. The role of communication and media in the process of development should not be underestimated, nor the function of media as instruments for the citizen’s active participation in society. Political and educational systems need to recognize their obligations to promote in their citizens a critical understanding of the phenomena of communication.’

In 2007, UNESCO made another declaration in Paris, which you can read above or here.

Read the full lesson content from the link above.

Lecture Basic Principles of Journalism introduces the basic things that we expect to see in any good media reporting. Its essence is summarized in the 5 Ws and 1H principle, meaning that your information should contain answers to the following 5 questions: Who, What, Why, When and Where, as well as How.

Prezi presentation of the lecture can be found here. 

Read the full lesson content from the link above.

Short Kahoot Quiz on the Basic Principles of Journalism

Useful Tip - If in doubt, beware of the photos!

This presentation summarizes the development of responsible journalism and provides examples of the most influential cases in the history of investigative journalism The Watergate scandal, WikiLeaks, Panama papers...

This short video lecture offers Top 10 essential rules of journalism or 10 practical tips for good reporting, adapted from the list by Jeremy Porter from the blog Journalistics.

Prezi presentation of the lecture can be found here. 

Read the full lesson content on the link above.

Investigative journalism is often defined as a form of journalism in which reporters deeply investigate a single topic of interest, such as serious crimes, political corruption, or corporate wrongdoing. 

Organizations of investigative journalists 

Investigative Journalism Sources:

The Internet offers a number of useful, practical and insightful manuals about investigative journalism, with step-by-step guide on how to find a story, follow it, treat your sources, defining minimal and maximal hypothesis etc. 

   Ten Steps to Investigative Reporting By Lucinda S. Fleeson publication by the International Center for Journalists

"Broaden the Definition of Investigative Reporting 

Don’t limit yourself! Investigative reporting includes more than stories that expose corruption and criminal activity. Important and suitable topics include stories that explain how systems work or fail, or reconstruct a complex event. Reporters at many newspapers have found that readers have a great interest in how things work, what is going on, how it may affect ordinary people." 

Investigative Journalism, From BIRN’s Probe to Porn Vids, A short article by Serbian Award-winning investigative journalist Branko Čečen (in English) 

What is investigative journalism? Publication and website by Konrad Adenauer Foundation (Africa)       

"By the time you read this chapter and worked through the exercises and reading, you'll know how to:

* Define the practice of investigative journalism; Discuss the mission of investigative journalists and some of the ground rules they need to observe; Discuss the skills and personal qualities investigative journalists need;  Identify topics and approaches appropriate for investigative stories; Discuss, critique, and derive pointers from examples of African and other investigative journalism." 

"the Casebook serves as a complementary material for training purposes, aiming to enhance the exchange of good practices and networking in investigative journalism throughout the world. It contains more than 20 worldwide recent investigative stories, covering a wide variety of topical subjects and of special interest to UNESCO such as freedom of information, good governance, social and legal issues, the environment, health and gender...,  followed by an explanation of how the authors conducted their research and the writing of the piece. Many of the authors belong to the Global Investigative Journalism Network, and the stories exemplify modern techniques and high standards.

Investigative Journalism: Context and Practice, Edited by Hugo de Burgh

Investigative Journalism is a critical and reflective introduction to the traditions and practices of investigative journalism. Beginning with a historical survey, the authors explain how investigative journalism should be understood within the framework of the mass media. They discuss how it relates to the legal system, the place of ethics in investigations and the influence of new technologies on journalistic practices.

 ISTRAŽIVAČKO NOVINARSTVO, published by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Sarajevo in 2009 (in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian)

The goal of this exercise (accommodated from MediaLit.org) is to gain a better understanding of how media messages are constructed. The decision of what to include and what to leave out is made all the time as media creators struggle to balance competing needs. By enacting the role of news producers and organizing a simple 30 minute TV newscast, you can experience the process of making critical choices about what gets aired and what is never seen.

Objectives: You will be able to… 

1. Experience the role of news editor. 

2. Define factors that go into news judgments. 

3. Explore the constructed nature of news media with a consciousness of the way subjective choices influence the news that gets reported.

Your Task(s):

I. First, go to this website of the Newseum, containing front pages from over 400 newspapers in 47 countries; the “map view” helps you locate your own local newspaper as well as cities near and far. 

II. Compare various Newspapers' front pages - Which stories are on more front pages? Which are only on one front page? What feelings or impressions do you get from the different front pages? Compare headlines for the same story in the two papers. How do the headlines differ in tone and implication? How do the headlines influence the way one could read the story? Compare photographs connected with the same story in the two newspapers. In what ways are the photos similar or different? What do the photos suggest about the story? What are some ways you see that headlines and photographs affect interpretations of news stories?

III. Make your own front page. While doing it, try to think about - How and why do you decide to select certain events and exclude others? What photos/visuals do you include and why? What headlines and subheadings you chose - can they be really neutral and what kind of message do they transmit?  

Every story and every written text has a certain logic, they are all constructed according to certain principles. The aim of this short lecture Basic rules of writing (10:46),is to identify some basic writing logic or principles that (should) underline(s) all writing. 

Prezi presentation of the lecture can be found here. 

Read the full lesson content on the link above.

Read the full lesson content on the link above.

A useful summary of main points on style from John R. Trimble, Writing with Style: Conversations on the Art of Writing, such as:

1 “Getting Launched”
2 “Thinking Well”
3 "How to write a critical analysis"
4 "Openers"
5 "Middles"
6 "Closers"

Writing Skills Test Practice Exam: 

(developed by the IELTS)

IELTS test is one of the most widespread and practically universally accepted test in English.  IELTS in its full form stands for the International English Language Testing System – an English Language proficiency test developed and run by the British Council in partnership with IDP Education and Cambridge Assessment English.

The IELTS system is highly regarded and widely recognised as the world’s most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration. Whether you are looking to study, develop your career, or settle in an English-speaking country, IELTS can pave the way.

On the link above, you can take 2 sample writing tests.

The next topic in this course is the list of Top 10 Basic Principles of Composition. We follow here the famous little book called The Elements of Style, written 100 years ago by William Strunk and modified half a century ago by Elwyn White. Many considered it the best source for young journalists. In only a few dozens of pages, this book summarized most rules and typical mistakes in English language.

Prezi presentation of the lecture can be found here. 

Read the full lesson content on the link above.

Kahoot 12 questions quiz revision about good writing & media literacy 

Good luck!

The Elements of Style is a famous short book written by William Strunk and abridged by E. B. White over a hundred years ago. It had numerous editions and is still considered one of the best manuals for good writing in English. 

Please read carefully the section - Elementary Principles of Composition pp. 15-32.

The next topic in this course is the list of the ten elementary rules of good usage, a sort of top ten list of basic grammar rules in English, or the most common mistakes that people usually make. Our source for this is the already mentioned book Elements of Style written 100 years ago by William Strunk and modified half a century ago by Elwyn White.

Prezi presentation of the lecture can be found here. 

Read the full lesson content on the link above.

The Elements of Style is a famous short book written by William Strunk and abridged by E. B. White over a hundred years ago. It had numerous editions and is still considered one of the best manuals for good writing in English. 

Please read carefully the section - Elementary Principles of Composition pp. 1-15.

This website contains a list of a number of interactive quizzes on grammar and writing that you can take at will. They cover all the major fields such as: BASIC SENTENCE PARTS, VERBS AND VERBALS, CLAUSES & PHRASES, STRUCTURAL FLAWS, PUNCTUATION & BASIC MECHANICS, PRONOUN USAGE, STYLISTIC CONSIDERATIONS, NOTORIOUS CONFUSABLES, SPELLING, VOCABULARY and GENERAL GRAMMAR quizzes.

Read the full lesson content on the link above.

some general principles about writing an 

effective concept/draft article. 

Read the full lesson content on the link above.

This Kahoot Quiz helps you in revising the topic on un/reliable 

and trustworthy sources of information.  

This presentation contains some basic information about fake news and how to recognize them, as well as additional sources and links on the subject.

Additional Sources:

Balkan websites and initiatives for exposing fake news:

Read the full lesson content on the link above.

Real or fake? is a short, 10 question quiz developed by the Pulitzer-winning Politifact. These questions help you determine and evaluate if a certain website, article, or source of information is reliable or not. After you responded to the quiz, you will get a feedback telling you if the source in question is reliable, fake or dubious and needs further verification.

In short, fact checking is the way of verifying the truthfulness of a text, sentence, claim, image, footage, clip or any form of media content we’re receiving, producing or publishing.

In this presentation, we will see:

Read the full lesson content on the link above.

Journalism ethics means ethical principles and good practices that journalists should use.  

 Society of Professional Journalists - SPJ Code of Ethics is one of the most influential and clearest expressions of ethical standards in journalism.

The four pillars of this ethics can be summarized as follows:

SEEK TRUTH AND REPORT IT - Ethical journalism should be accurate and fair. Journalists should be honest and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.

ACT INDEPENDENTLY  - The highest and primary obligation of ethical journalism is to serve the public.

BE ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT -  means taking responsibility for one's work and explaining one’s decisions to the public.

MINIMIZE HARM - treat sources, subjects, colleagues and members of the public as human beings deserving of respect.

Read the full lesson content on the link above.

Read the full lesson content on the link above.

In this section of the course, we will talk about Youth activism. Firstly, I will provide some details about Youth Activism in general, and then focus in particular on Youth Activism in the realm of the media. I will discuss issues such as: What is youth activism, why is it important, what forms of youth activism are there, how do young people become activists, how to use social media as a tool for youth activism and so on. We will then go to explore in some detail two representative cases of youth activism. The first case study will be dedicated to a documentary called Kony 2012, which became viral and led to an international intervention intended to bring down a suspected war criminal. The second study case is the story of Malala Yousafzai, the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate. 

A short opening lecture entitled Youth activism explaining the notion of youth activism. 

 Powerpoint presentation of the lecture can be found here.  

Read the full lesson content on the link above.

Malala Yousafzai was only 17 when she received a Nobel Prize for peace for her struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education. Malala was born in the region known as the Swat valley in Pakistan, which is close to the Afghanistan border. Her family ran several schools in the region, and as a girl, she was a good pupil and dreamt of becoming a doctor. Her region had at times shifted under the control of the Taliban, who imposed strict laws in the places that they control and banned the girls from taking education under the threat of punishment or death.

A documentary about Malala called Class dismissed is available here.

In her Nobel lecture, Malala Yousafzai humbly emphasized that she is acting on behalf of thousands, even millions of young girls in the world who are deprived of education, and she also invited several of her young friends from different parts of the world who are fighting for the same thing to be present there during the ceremony. She is currently continuing her struggle and has opened a school for the Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and this school offers education and training to girls between 14 and 18 years of age. As the last part of the story of Malala Yousafzai and the ability of one young person to influence the world, we are giving here her Nobel Peace Prize speech in full.

Greta Thunberg is a Swedish teenage environmental activist who is internationally known for challenging world leaders to take immediate action against climate change. Thunberg initially gained notice for her youth and her straightforward speaking manner, both in public and to political leaders and assemblies, in which she criticises world leaders for their failure to take what she considers sufficient action to address the climate crisis.

After Thunberg addressed the 2018 United Nations Climate Change Conference, student strikes took place every week somewhere in the world. In 2019, there were multiple coordinated multi-city protests involving over a million students each. To avoid flying, Thunberg sailed to North America where she attended the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit. Her speech there, in which she exclaimed "How dare you", was widely taken up by the press and incorporated into music.

Greta's 2019 speech How dare you? 

Social Media and Youth Activism Lecture address the issue of youth activism in the contemporary IT environment. Some scholars argue that youth activism today is at its lowest points. They emphasize movements such as those in the USA, for example, Black Panthers who fought for the rights of black and oppressed people in America, or student movement and anti-war movement during the Vietnam war. The students were also heavily involved in social justice for the civil rights movement, the women’s liberation movement, and gay rights, as well as environmental issues and freedom of speech, among other things. Today, some say, youth are self-centered, narcissistic and so on, and they take no part in civic participation. 

Others think that countless youth are civically engaged and involved in movements outside of traditional 

political groups. Kassimir concludes that “our understanding of contemporary youth activism – local and global, national and transnational – lags woefully behind the political practices of young people… Many young people have found their voices and are speaking up for change”.

So, how are young people using social media as tools for activism?

Facebook and Twitter are used resources for youth activism: technological advancement has necessitated a new way of understanding activism among young people. The nowadays world is being transformed by young people, “but crucially through means and methods that are unfamiliar to adults”.

 Powerpoint presentation of the lecture can be found here.  

Read the full lesson content on the link above.

Kony 2012 is a documentary produced by a charity called Invisible children in 2012. The organisation Invisible Children was founded in 2004 by three filmmakers Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey and Lauren Poole to raise awareness and to bring to justice Joseph Kony, who was the leader of the Lords Resistance Army. This paramilitary formation was at the time responsible for the abduction of thousands of children, rape, pillage and it caused the displacement of over a million people in Uganda. In 2005, a year after Invisible Children was formed, Joseph Kony became the most wanted man by the International Criminal Court, and his actions were described as having no ulterior political or ethical motifs except him imposing his brutal power.

Kony 2012 is a 2012 American short documentary produced by Invisible Children, Inc. 

This video will guide you through the process of creating your own Youtube channel. It contains a step-by-step tutorial for beginners and describes how to create an account.  

Read the full lesson content on the link above.

The Translational Youth Magazine (TYM) is a rebranded journal emerging from the Mediactive Youth initiative. It contains many texts of your young activists, from dozens of countries worldwide. Some of the young activists had their first articles published here, so we welcome your contribution, irrespective of whether you are a beginner or experienced author.

The website Teachtought  provides a useful and illustrative chart with 12 Examples Of Blended Learning