We are excited to share the success of the “News Literacy, Critical Thinking, and Media Activism Training Course”, held as part of the MEDIActive Youth: Informing the Balkans project. From May 26th to June 4th, youth workers and trainers from across the Balkans gathered in Belgrade, Serbia, for an intensive and inspiring 10-day program hosted by CDER.

This training brought together 24 committed participants from partner organizations across the region, equipping them with crucial skills in news literacy, critical thinking, and media activism. Through a dynamic and interactive approach, participants explored key topics such as:

Training Highlights:

• The role of news literacy in shaping informed individuals and societies.
• The impact of media and journalism in the post-truth era.
• How to identify manipulative media tactics and detect fake news.
• Understanding information disorder and media pollution.
• The influence of algorithms, news feeds, filter bubbles, and echo chambers.
• Strategies for finding reliable sources and conducting effective web searches.
• Strengthening critical thinking and media content creation skills.

A major focus of the training was developing participants’ writing skills. With guidance from trainers, each participant wrote a media article for the Transnational Youth Magazine (TYM), applying the knowledge and skills gained throughout the course.

Beyond media literacy, participants also engaged in meaningful discussions on reconciliation in the Balkans, exchanging perspectives and experiences on fostering unity in the region.

The training incorporated a diverse range of methods, including interactive workshops, discussions, media content analysis, case studies, practical exercises, and group work, ensuring a well-rounded and immersive learning experience.

Partner Organizations:

• Center for Intercultural Dialogue (CID) – North Macedonia
• Hrvatska edukacijska i razvojna mreža za evoluciju sporazumijevanja (HERMES) – Croatia
• Bosnian Representative Association for Valuable Opportunities (BRAVO) – Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Përtej Barrierave (BBA) – Albania
• Nevladino Udruženje Prima (NVO PRIMA) – Montenegro
• Centar za društveno ekonomski razvoj (CDER) – Serbia (coordinator)