Media and Digital Literacy Camp: Enhancing Critical Thinking and Digital Skills among Youth
The second Media and Digital Literacy Camp for youth started on Friday, September 26, at Jahorina. The camp hosts 17 participants from all parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Over the course of four days, young people will gain knowledge about media, digital and scientific literacy, fact-checking, and artificial intelligence through interactive workshops and practical exercises.
The program includes lectures and workshops led by experts in communications, science, media, and digital literacy, with a special focus on fact-checking, source credibility analysis, and practical application of digital tools.
The emphasis was placed on the importance of critical thinking, media literacy in the digital age, and active youth participation in society.
Ferdinand Koenig, Head of Communications and Spokesperson of the EU in BiH highlighted that new technologies have transformed how we access and share information, opening up incredible opportunities while also increasing risks for information manipulation and spread of disinformation. He stated: “In this fast-changing environment, media and digital literacy are essential skills for everyone to be able to evaluate sources critically and share content responsibly. As technology continues to evolve, further transforming how we create and consume information, these skills will only become more important.”
Participants will have the opportunity to attend lectures by Associate Professor Dr. Lamija Silajdžić from the Department of Journalism/Communication at the Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Sarajevo; Jelena Kalinić, a biologist, science journalist, and communicator; Associate Professor Dr. Nasir Muftić from the Faculty of Law, University of Sarajevo; and Marija Ćosić, deputy chief and responsible editor of the Raskrinkavanje platform, which operates within the NGO “Zašto ne”.
“Media and digital literacy have long been essential skills for navigating the information space of the digital age in which we live. Since information from the public sphere shapes our opinions, attitudes and influences our life decisions, misunderstanding it or falling prey to various influences can lead to serious consequences. This camp is precisely about trying to minimize such influences and strengthen critical thinking and fact-checking skills among young people, so I hope we will succeed in that,” said Emir Zulejhić, Program Coordinator at CA “Why Not.”
Azra Mehmedović, one of the participants, emphasized the importance of such education for her: “The Media and Digital Literacy Camp is an opportunity for me to learn how to recognize accurate information and avoid disinformation. This is especially important to me because, through my work and posts on social media, I want to provide young people with accurate and verified information, and this camp gives me the knowledge and tools to do that even better.”
The Media and Digital Literacy Camp for youth is organized as part of the European Union project “Raising Awareness and Knowledge of Media Literacy among Youth in BiH”.