Kutaisi, Georgia: The Media Development Foundation (MDF) media literacy team visited Kutaisi, the third-largest city in Georgia, on January 12, 2024, to conduct a media literacy training session with local youth.
The training was part of the project Quality Media and Media Conscious Consumption for the Next Society (ConMeCo), which aims to foster critical thinking and media awareness among young people in Georgia.
The training session involved engaging young participants in practical activities that helped them to verify information and visual manipulation, research the transparency of sources, and, in general, distinguish between quality media content and manipulation.
The participants also learned about the role and responsibility of media in a democratic society, the importance of media diversity and pluralism, and the challenges and opportunities of digital media.
The training session was facilitated by MDF media literacy trainers with extensive experience and expertise in media education and journalism. The trainers used interactive methods and tools, such as games, quizzes, videos, and online platforms, to make the learning process fun and effective.
The ConMeCo project is implemented by the Deutsche Welle Academy, Germany’s leading organization for international media development, in cooperation with MDF and the Center for Human Rights, two prominent local non-profit organizations.
The project is funded by the European Union and co-financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The project aims to improve the quality and diversity of media content in Georgia, enhance young people’s media literacy and critical thinking skills, and promote a culture of media-conscious consumption and civic engagement.
The project also supports media outlets and journalists in producing high-quality, ethical, and inclusive content that reflects the needs and interests of diverse audiences.
The project has been running since 2023 and will continue until 2025. It covers six regions of Georgia: Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, Zugdidi, Akhaltsikhe, and Telavi.
The project plans to reach over 2,000 young people through media literacy training, workshops, online courses, and more than 100 media professionals through mentoring, coaching, and networking activities.
