Skopje, 27.04.2017г. – The Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services, today, solemnly promoted the Media Literacy Network of the Republic of Macedonia, whose goal is to promote cooperation between the various actors in Macedonian society who create and implement policies and implement activities and projects in the field of media literacy.
The network has 35 founders – educational institutions, civic organizations, media and state institutions, including two ministries – the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy. The network is open to new members, who can access it by signing and depositing an Access Card.
Speaking about the reasons for establishing the Network, the director of the Agency, Dr. Zoran Trajchevski, said that following the previous initiatives, it was established that the involved entities often talk about the need to strengthen cooperation in order to achieve better results, self-sustainability of already implemented projects and continuity. of the activities.
Support for the establishment of the Media Literacy Network of the Republic of Macedonia was also expressed by the Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union, Mr. Samuel Zbogar, who pointed out that media literacy is particularly important for a healthy democracy and for media freedoms and pluralism, as well as that media literacy is intertwined with the development of citizens’ critical thinking and their ability to keep up with technological and societal changes.
The obligations of all stakeholders who joined the Network are defined in a separate Act for the establishment of the Network. Information about activities and news will be published in quarterly newsletters that will be distributed by e-mail, as well as through a website dedicated to media literacy and through social networks. The network will try to be active at the international level, and when possible, news will be published in publications of European and international organizations.
The first project of the Network was also announced at the event, which is ongoing and includes the preparation of a DVD with materials and information on media literacy, intended for primary schools in the Republic of Macedonia. The materials for the DVD have been provided by several members of the Network, and its distribution in schools will follow the approval of the Education Development Bureau and the Ministry of Education. In the meantime, the Agency has printed a leaflet with information on media literacy, which will be distributed together with the DVD, and will be distributed to the general public as one of the Agency’s activities to raise citizens’ awareness of the importance of media literacy.