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Participants of Media Literacy Lessons Conclude: “A person informed is a person protected”

10 October 2016
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Media literacy lessons within the “Call us to your school!” campaign, conducted by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC), continued on Friday, October 7, at the Lyceum of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova in Chisinau and the “B.P. Hasdeu” Lyceum in Drochia. Over 50 students, participants of the two activities, discussed about the need to consume media, journalists’ neutrality, and about how they can filter information so as not to fall prey to manipulation.

Diana Raileanu, who moderated the event at the Lyceum of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, explained to young people the role of a journalist in delivering news. “The mission of a journalist is to inform, and not comment on facts. Beware of the journalist’s comments when they report on some facts,” she advised. The media expert also recommended participants to analyze the sources of news and to question whatever they read in the media or in social networks. In this context, Diana Raileanu spoke about the structure of a news report and about the questions that materials of this journalistic genre must necessarily answer.

The video spot produced by the IJC – “Do you know what media you consume?” – helped students understand how and why manipulation via the media occurs. The phenomenon is possible wherever and whenever journalists fail to comply with the code of ethics, while public interest is replaced by the interests of media owners, some of whom are politicians.

The meeting with students in Drochia was moderated by journalist Liliana Barbarosie, who referred to another phenomenon in our press – media concentration. The expert noted that many televisions do not necessarily mean many opinions. If an owner has several TV channels, they represent a single voice and will deliver a single message. Therefore, it is very important that young people diversify their sources of information and know who the owners who fund them are. In conclusion, students were urged to have a critical attitude towards the journalistic product.

Asked by Media Azi, participants in the two activities characterized them as “very necessary and useful.” Teodora Postovan, student of “B.P. Hasdeu” Lyceum in Drochia, said: “At the lesson I found out that news should pass the filter of the mind, so that we can distinguish between objective and non-objective information,” she said. Her classmate, Valeria Surlaru, added: “These lessons are very necessary and useful. We learned that we should be careful with the information that is offered to us and not let ourselves be manipulated by some private channels that pursue their own goals.”

Maricica Movileanu, student at the Lyceum of the Academy of Sciences in Chisinau, thought that media literacy lessons “are extremely necessary for the young generation, who are just forming their personalities, and this process should not be influenced by certain voices behind the TV screen.” In her turn, Corina Musteata, student at the same lyceum, concluded: “A person informed is a person protected.” According to her, participation in this activity will help her defend in the future from false and manipulating news.

The “Promoting Media Literacy and Professional Standards in the Media for an Informed Public” project is being implemented by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC) with the financial support of Soros-Foundation – Moldova/Media Program.

The Independent Journalism Center (IJC) is the first media organization that provides aid to journalists and media outlets in Moldova, having the goal to contribute to strengthening free and viable press via projects that offer training in the area of journalism and public relations, media campaigns, advocacy, research and media education.