Note from the Media Literacy Network meeting held as part of Media Literacy Days 2021
On 29.11.2021, through the Zoom online platform, the annual (online) meeting of the Media Literacy Network was held, which is traditionally held within the Media Literacy Days. The meeting was attended by: Emilia Petresca – Kamenjarova (AVMU), Sasho Bogdanovski (AVMU), Viktor Stojanov (AVMU), Marina Trajkova (AVMU), Snezhana Trpevska (RESIS Institute), Bojan Shashevski (MOF), Daniela Stankovska – Plachkovska (Agency for film), Dimitar Dimovski (Focus Pocus), Gonce Jakovlevska (MCMS), Marina Tuneva (SEMM), Olga Samardzic – Jankova (Conedu Global) and Vesna Nikodinoska (MIM). The following points were discussed at the meeting:
The meeting was convened with the following agenda:
1. Confirmation of the extension of the mandates of Snezhana Trpevska, Marina Tuneva and Emilia Petresca-Kamenjarova in the Coordination Group,
2. Confirmation of the extension of the mandate of Emilia Petresca-Kamenjarova as coordinator of the Network,
3. Reactualization of the formation of a working group for film literacy,
4. Information about the new website and other activities undertaken during the year,
5. Miscellaneous
• In relation to the first two items of the Agenda, and in connection with the expiration of the two-year mandates of three members of the Coordination Group (Snežana Trpevska, Marina Tuneva and Emilia Petreska – Kampenjarova) and of the coordinator of the Network (Emilija Petreska – Kamenjarova), in in the past period, the process of online candidacy and voting for new members of the Coordinating Group as well as for a new coordinator was opened. During the communication within the Network, it was agreed that, if there are new candidate(s) registered – they will be voted on at the annual meeting, and if not – it will be considered that the colleagues have been re-elected, again with a mandate of two years. Regarding this issue, only the representatives of the MOF sent an e-mail in which they declared that they support the extension of the mandate of the existing members and the coordinator. Considering this factual situation, it was concluded that they were re-elected for a term of two years.
• According to the third item of the Agenda, which provided for the re-actualization of the formation of a working group for film literacy, the coordinator Emilia Petreska – Kamenjarova (AVMU), reminded the attendees of the document “Recommendations for integrating the concept of media literacy in different social spheres”. The key recommendation in this document is the organization of working groups within the Network, which was achieved in 2019 when the working groups for formal and informal education, for research and for the promotion of the Network and attracting new members were formed. In this process, the formation of another working group – for film literacy, was conceived, which was not formed in 2019, due to insufficient interest from the members. The attendees were informed that there is renewed interest in forming this group, in cooperation with the Film Agency.
• The representative of the Film Agency – Daniela Stankovska – Plachkovska, emphasized that film literacy is intertwined with media literacy and that the Film Agency, as a member of the Network, is ready to lead this group and initiate and implement a series of projects. Namely, as she pointed out, with the formation of the group for film literacy, an opportunity will be opened for projects that will help children and young people in understanding the film and that cooperation with primary and secondary schools in the country is foreseen for this. In addition, this group will bring together and network the media, filmmakers and other stakeholders in this sphere. She proposed to initiate greater visibility in the coming period by inviting relevant stakeholders to join the Network.
• Bojan Shashevski (MOF) suggested that communicators and institutions/organizations that work in the field of education and media literacy, as well as filmmakers, organizers of film festivals, cinemas and the Cinematheque of North Macedonia, should be invited to join this group.
As a conclusion to this point, it was agreed that, as with the formation of other working groups, an e-mail will be sent to the members of the Network in which the goals and mission of the film literacy group will be explained, and also the members should be called to declare which of them would like to join the group.
• Snezhana Trpevska (RESIS Institute) emphasized that more activity is needed by the members and the working groups within the Network throughout the year, for which she proposed the development of annual work plans for the working groups.
• Within the fourth item of the Agenda, the Coordinator presented the new look of the website https://mediumskapismenost.mk/ and reminded the attendees about the promotion activities of the Media Literacy Network:
• The campaign through social networks initiated by AVMU, which lasted 4 months, to which a large number of members contributed and within which the “Handbook for parents on media literacy” produced by the RESIS Institute was promoted,
• The creation of profiles on the Network and on Twitter and Instagram (in addition to Facebook), in accordance with the Communication Strategy developed in 2020.
• He called on the members of the Network to share new information more often and more actively (about their projects, events, publications, analyses…) in order to achieve more activity throughout the year (outside of Media Literacy Days), as well as to https://mediumskapismenost.mk/ was used as a place to exchange the latest information and as a source of resources.
• In addition, it was proposed to make changes to the Application Form for joining the Network for Media Literacy, which will enable the membership of individuals/natural persons in the Network.
