Coming soon – second Media Literacy Days in Croatia: start of the “Children learn about media” programme

Zagreb, 19 March 2019 – Before the beginning of the second Media Literacy Days, which will be organised by the Agency for Electronic Media and UNICEF from 8 to 12 April 2019, the “Children Learn about Media” programme has started, which gives primary and secondary school children the opportunity to experience first-hand the life of media outlets and to learn how news is created.

The “Children Learn about Media” programme, which includes interactive workshops for students from the fifth grade of elementary school to the fourth grade of secondary school, has been created in cooperation with a group of Croatian media outlets. In order to better understand and use media content, children visit newsrooms and cooperate with media professionals to gain direct insight into how media work, they learn how news is created, and afterwards, with the help of experts, they create their own media content. 

“Children Learn about Media” is only one in a series of programmes which, by emphasising the importance of media literacy in children and adults, form part of the Media Literacy Days. Last year, 130 events and activities (in as many as 60 towns), with the participation of over 6,500 children from around Croatia, were organised as part of this initiative. A large number of libraries, kindergartens, schools, universities, cinemas, media, NGOs that deal with media literacy, and cultural institutions from all over Croatia will again participate in the second edition of this project with their activities, workshops, presentations and film screenings.

Croatian citizens have also recognised the need for developing media literacy. When it comes to the influence that media have on children and young people, a study conducted last year by Ipsos on behalf of the Agency for Electronic Media and UNICEF showed that the greatest concerns of parents include violence in media, internet security, the time that children spend in front of various screens, age-inappropriate TV and online content, and the effect of social media on children’s development.

Developing media literacy skills, which are considered one of the most important life skills of the 21^st century and a key factor for making informed decisions in the digital age, is one of the main goals of the Media Literacy Days.

This year’s second Media Literacy Days will again be held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Science and Education.

Kindergartens, schools, libraries and other institutions can participate in the Media Literacy Days, and all information, registration for participants, and material to download are available at www.medijskapismenost.hr.

Follow the Media Literacy Days at medijskapismenost.hr and Facebook page.