This project responds to the challenges presented by COVID 19 to face to face training delivery and looks into mainstreaming diversity into the media content production as a whole. We want to address this by designing a blended training course that would integrate an e-learning tool as well as remote workshops facilitated by trainers. The remote workshops will be designed in a way, that enables trainers to organise them face-to-face as well, once the pandemic is over. This approach presents an opportunity for community organisations to explore the possibilities of remote training and learning creating resources and platforms that can be used into the future. This course will target existing media content producers (staff and volunteers) as well as adult learners interested in creating inclusive media content in all genres of programming, from radio drama to music programmes, current affairs to panel discussions. It will be valuable for producers of all types of media content, be it radio or podcasts, print or other text-based media or even TV. The project will be using existing training resources created for face-to-face training in the EMAC project (http://ethicalmediatraining.eu) and adapt the existing structure and activities to create a blended online course that will involve e-learning and trainer lead (online) workshops. This new structure will allow the learner to acquire and develop new skills in the areas of terminology, research and production, explore new ways to create engaging and inclusive content, opening new possibilities, as well as a better understanding of (critical) media literacy questions that directly affect and restrict the selection and creation of media content, such as structures of privilege and implicit and explicit bias. So, the project will provide an new pathway to soft key competences and skills by promoting ethical and inclusive approach to the creation of media content encouraging the participation of a diversity of voices and ideas in the creative process. The project will challenge the existing media discourse based on misinformation and stereotypes by promoting the engagement of minority groups in this process as a way to highlight common values that work towards a more inclusive society.
The project responds to the challenges presented by COVID 19 to face to face training delivery in the area of media content creation due to infection prevention restrictions. This situation particularly affects community and voluntary organisations that, in many cases, lack the resources and expertise to move towards online training platforms. Furthermore, during the years 2017-2019, partners in Ireland, Spain, Germany, Austria and Belgium worked together towards the creation of the Ethical Media for Active Citizenship (EMAC, http://ethicalmediatraining.eu) training resources aimed to provide trainers with tools to empower media content creators with competences (knowledge and skills and attitude) to promote the participation of minority voices in the content they create by implementing a diversity approach to the core values of journalism (accuracy, independence, fairness and impartiality, humanity and accountability). Because of the key importance of this training in the creation of content, particularly in a community media setting, the project focused on making this training available as a blended training course, including self-directed learning though a e-learning platform that could be supported by online remote training-led group workshops or integrated in face to face training. The final aim behind this project is to ensure that existing and future media content creators and/or users would approach the content production process from an inclusivity perspective. Our vision is to mainstream diversity into the media content creation and production processes as a whole by designing an e-learning training course targeting existing media content producers (staff and volunteers) as well as adult learners interested in inclusive media content. Objectives: To empower existing and future media creators by providing them with the competencies (knowledge and skills and attitude) necessary to create inclusive media content. To reinforce the creation of inclusive content that promotes an equality approach to promote the participation -and include the voices- of minorities (ethnic or religious, LGBT, people with disabilities, women, youth and older people) with a view to empower these groups through a fair representation in media content that challenges current stereotypes and lack of representation. To revise existing materials and resources in the EMAC online tool and adapt them to an e-learning platform. To create an e-learning interactive platform that will deliver to the learning outcomes and allow the participants to track their learning To facilitate trainers' needs by creating a clear structure with this e-learning platform that can supplement and reinforce the learning experience of trainees. To pilot the materials in workshops delivered by the partners in their country. the promotion of this training at international level within the community radio sector and the adult education sector in general, as this course has a strong underlining media literacy element. The online training design will also extend the reach of the project, as it could be delivered to learners independently of their location. To help develop critical thinking and fact checking skills among media practitioners and media users.
The LEMON project aims to facilitate an inclusive and diversity approach to the creation of media content. The project idea is based on a previous project that the partners completed during the years 2017-2019, called Ethical Media for Active Citizenship. The EMAC project (http://ethicalmediatraining.eu) created a series of training plans and resources aimed to provide trainers with tools to empower media content creators with competencies (knowledge and skills and attitude) to promote the participation of minority voices in the content they create by implementing a diversity approach to the core values of journalism (accuracy, independence, fairness, and impartiality, humanity and accountability). As partners became aware of the key importance of this training in the creation of content, particularly in a community media setting, and the impossibility of face-to-face training as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, they planned the Learning Ethical Media ONline (LEMON) project to develop self-directed learning through an e-learning platform supported by online remote training-led group workshops. This project has developed and adapted EMAC resources and materials with the aim to promote the creation of inclusive media content by raising awareness among media content creators of the need for diversity of voices and ideas in their media products.. Initial feedback [from the participants] from the EMAC training shows that participants believed they had increased their awareness of cultural and societal differences of terminology depending on the individual background or origin after completing the training. 80 % of the participants from the Dublin training said they were more confident in how to ask someone who is a member of a minority group how they like to be addressed. From the German group almost all participants thought the activities hit their goal and left a lasting impression on them. This feedback on the training made it more important and valuable to find another avenue for the delivery of this training, as the COVID-19 pandemic associated travel restrictions, requirements regarding room size/number of participants, number of people meeting indoors, etc, were implemented around the globe. And while face to face critical media literacy training had stopped, the dependency of citizens on media content deepened at a time when restricted movement, self-isolation, quarantine and cocooning limited human interaction. This dependency, clearly presents a need for promoting new and inclusive media messages, rejecting existing discourses that either ignore or misrepresent minorities, promote discrimination and hate, or just disseminate misinformation. This is how the idea of bringing the EMAC content to a blended training format came to life. The project partners felt that the adaptation of the activities and contents for an interactive e-learning tool that will be beneficial to trainers that might invite relevant groups to complete the course independently, as an online trainer-led remote group workshops, or as an activity complementary to their onsite training. NEEDS ADDRESSED Supporting the creation of active and media-savvy citizenry Community media as innovators in the creation of e-learning resources on media literacy for citizens and staff and volunteers Media literacy recognised as an important component of social cohesion by promoting inclusiveness and participation in all areas of programming creation. Exploring approaches for community media to employ e-learning in their development Furthering of transnationalisation of educational efforts Doing our part to establishing European cooperation in the media sector