Transatlantic Media Literacy Project

Media Literacy – Social Media in Times of Global Crises?
How to Build Trust and Distinguish Fake News from Facts:
A Transatlantic Student Project on Media Literacy
Berlin • Dresden • Silicon Valley

Source: Aspen Institute Germany (German) 

About the Project

From November 3 to 5, 2021, the Aspen Institute Germany brought together around 60 interested and committed students from the Dathe-Gymnasium in Berlin, the Marie-Curie-Gymnasium in Dresden and the German International School of Silicon Valley [...], for a virtual conference. In an exchange with high-ranking politicians, active diplomats, renowned scientists, renowned experts and respected media representatives, the topic was intensively discussed and solutions developed. In the process, students were able to learn how to deal competently with fake news and conspiracy ideologies, how to expose them, and how to counter them in a targeted manner. The exchange took place mainly in German via Zoom.

Background

The young generation of 14- to 19-year-olds has witnessed many changes and turbulences in recent years. Exemplary recent events have included the Fridays For Future demonstrations, the Black Lives Matter movement, election interference through social media and fake news campaigns. The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically accelerated the shift of public debate and discourse into the digital space. Keeping track of current events and developments in the information jungle while distinguishing facts and trustworthy information from fake news has become a real challenge for many people. At the same time, targeted misinformation and conspiracy theories are spreading rapidly on social media. Against this backdrop, adolescents and young adults in particular are at great risk, as they often consume their news exclusively via social media. Media literacy and the ability to analyze the credibility of information are therefore crucial.

Especially with the current issues of climate change, structural inequalities and racism, and health and COVID-19 in conjunction with media literacy in the transatlantic context, these issues are critical and the views of the emerging young generation are particularly important.

Media Literacy Handbook/Manual [by Aspen Institute Germany] 
[The] publication “The Media Literacy Handbook Mastering Media Literacy” includes tips, experiences and quotes from students for students. The online edition of [the] handbook is published in German and is available here:
"Dr. Stormy-Annika Mildner und Daniel Kirchhof (Hrsg.): Medienkompetenz meistern – Tipps von Schüler*innen für Schüler*innen, Januar 2022." [...]

Media Literacy Podcast [by Aspen Institute Germany]  (www.aspeninstitute.de/publications)
Together with selected experts and students from [the Aspen] conference, [the Aspen Institute has] put together a three-part podcast on the findings of [the] conference under the direction and leadership of [the] podcast producer Roberta Ahlers [...]

The podcast [...] is dedicated to the topics of media literacy, information literacy and the competent handling of “fake news,” disinformation, conspiracy ideologies, hate speech and discrimination on the Internet and Social Media. In each episode, the host talks to selected experts about topics related to media literacy. Selected students from the Dathe-Gymnasium in Berlin, the Marie-Curie-Gymnasium in Dresden and the German International School of Silicon Valley also have their say (episode 2 and 3).

> The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other relevant platforms. (in German)

We would like to particularly thank the U.S. Embassy in Berlin for their kind support of the project.