The project "reCREATE healthy narratives to tackle fake news" aims to fight misinformation on migration in Europe by a cross-sectoral cooperation between 7 partner country. Thanks to the innovative approach of participatory-video the project raises awareness and engages young people, allowing them to create original and different narratives about migration and to counter misinformation. CONTEXT The COVID-19 crisis has revealed how harmful the fake-news phenomenon can be, but it is not the only wake-up call. Several studies confirm that the public perception of migration in Europe is far from reality. The climate of tension and intolerance experienced in recent years in relation to migration and the public perception of the phenomenon is, in part, the result of bad information on the subject, or rather complete misinformation. Stereotypical and trivial, migration speeches are rampant on social networks, this risks to take root on those who most use new media: young people. To try and fix this issue in 2018 the European Commission outlined an Action Plan to step up efforts to counter disinformation in Europe. Between the actions designed by the Plan there are awareness-raising activities linked to media literacy and technology literacy. Inspired by the European guidelines, the reCREATE project established an integrated strategy that includes research and creativity solutions to fight disinformation about the migration phenomenon. Acquiring creative skills, such as video-making and developing creative thinking is the basis for finding solutions to face difficult moments such as the historical one we are living through OBJECTIVES The overall objective of the project is to counter misinformation about migration through the engagement of young people. The specific objectives are: • To increase creative skills. • To encourage critical thinking and young people’s spirit of initiative in regards to misinformation and migration. • To foster media literacy among young people. • To enhance awareness on migration. • To provides young people video-making basic competencies. • To create new migration narratives by using the participatory-video method. PARTICIPANTS The direct participants will be young people between 20 and 29 years old. The project is carried out by a partnership whose strength is diversity, involving both public associations, and social enterprises. The participating organizations come from 7 countries, among the most involved in the migration phenomenon: Irland, Italy, Greece, Germany, Spain, Romania, France. In particular: Champions Factory Irland, Progeu - Progress in European Union, Roes Cooperativa, EBB - Europass Berlin Beratungsbüro, Asociación SEI - Servicio Socioeducativo Intercultural, Scout Society, Association Hexagonale l'Innovation Sociale et de l'Education. MAIN ACTIVITIES After an initial country-field research on the topic of misinformation and migration, the reCREATE partnership will focus his action towards the development of an e-learning course about media literacy and technology literacy, aimed to develop basic competences to verify information, understand digital communication and enhance critical thinking. Afterwards, the project provides a blended mobility of youth aimed to acquire video-making skills in order to develop alternative narratives using creative tools. The blended mobility foresees a virtual part of mobility, during which participants with be provided with the basic video-making skills and a physical one, where they develop a participatory-video. By using this inclusive and innovative methodology, the young participants will create alternative narratives that will go beyond stigmatization and misinformation. METHODOLOGY Both formal and informal methodologies will be expected to be used. The country-field research will be done with a qualitative and quantitative methodology exploration. The learning activities will be carried out with non-formal and participatory approaches. Particularly innovative will be the use of the participatory-video methodology which is used to empowering individuals and communities. EXPECTED RESULTS and IMPACTS • An increase of young people empowerment and engagement • A country-field research on misinformation and migration • A E-learning course on media literacy and technology literacy • A blended mobility of youth • An increased capability to verify fake- news • An improvement of young people critical thinking and media literacy competences • The development of video-making basic skills • A participatory-video to create original narratives to tell the migration phenomenon. • An increase of awareness about the migration issues. LONGER TERM BENEFITS In the long-term, the reCREATE project expects to have a better-informed youth, able to generate a sustainable increase of critical thinking, awareness actions and creative problem solutions.
The "reCREATE healthy narratives to tackle fake news" project aimed to achieve several objectives in its bid to combat misinformation about migration. Counter Misinformation: The overarching goal was to challenge and correct misinformation surrounding migration, primarily among young individuals who are most exposed to such content on digital platforms. Enhance Creative Skills: The project sought to boost creative skills among young people, specifically in video-making, to provide them with a creative outlet for expression and the creation of original narratives about migration. Promote Critical Thinking: The initiative aimed to foster critical thinking and initiative among young individuals, encouraging them to scrutinize information about migration critically and constructively. Foster Media Literacy: An integral objective was to develop media and technology literacy among participants, enabling them to understand digital communication and verify the accuracy of information. Increase Migration Awareness: The project also aimed to raise awareness about migration, dispelling stereotypes and promoting a more nuanced understanding of the issue. Create New Migration Narratives: Through the participatory-video method, the project aimed to enable young people to produce fresh, unbiased narratives on migration, effectively countering prevalent misinformation. The project sought to achieve these goals through an integrated strategy of research, creativity, and skill development, focusing on engaging the young population of Europe.
The decision to apply for the "reCREATE healthy narratives to tackle fake news" project was sparked by an urgent need to confront and debunk the wave of misinformation about migration flooding Europe's information landscape. The climate surrounding migration discourse had become increasingly fraught with tension and intolerance, much of which was fanned by inaccurate portrayals and harmful stereotypes about migration that circulated unchecked, especially on social media platforms. These platforms, frequently accessed by the younger population, allowed these false narratives to gain traction and shape perception. The COVID-19 pandemic further intensified the urgency to address this problem. The crisis revealed the grave consequences of misinformation, not only in public health but across all facets of society. Misinformation about migration, similar to COVID-19 misinformation, had the potential to stoke fear, incite prejudice, and perpetuate misunderstanding, further straining social cohesion. The European Commission, in response to the growing misinformation crisis, published an Action Plan in 2018 outlining steps to counter disinformation across Europe. This plan, which emphasized the need for media literacy, critical thinking, and awareness-raising, became a source of inspiration for our project. It identified the key components necessary for an effective response to the misinformation challenge. Thus, the "reCREATE healthy narratives to tackle fake news" project was conceived with a vision to harness the power of creativity and critical thinking in young people to counter migration misinformation. Utilizing a cross-sectoral approach, the project established partnerships across seven countries, each bringing unique perspectives and resources to the table. The innovative approach of participatory video creation lies at the heart of the project. This empowers young people not just as consumers but also as creators of content. By fostering their creative skills, it equips them to produce original narratives about migration that break away from stereotypes and represent the realities more accurately. This active engagement in countering misinformation is a significant step in reshaping public understanding and fostering a more inclusive discourse on migration in Europe.