Max van der Stoel Institute joined “Media Literacy Days” celebration by participating in the experts’ panel discussion titled “Building Social Resilience to the Adverse Effects of Disinformation” organized by the Metamorphosis Foundation, which took place on October 24th in Skopje, North Macedonia. The occasion was made possible through the generous support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands as part of the Western Balkans Anti-Disinformation Hub project.
Host panelists, Filip Stojanovski, Goran Rizaov, and Despina Kovachevska shared insights, along with Albulena Halili, a Research Associate and Head of Media Literacy & Disinformation (MeDisInfo) Research Cluster at Max van der Stoel Institute. Halili talked about the efforts of the cluster to raise awareness about the challenges posed by disinformation and presented an academic perspective on how academia can play a significant role in addressing this critical issue.
Given the shared challenges faced by Balkan countries, Nikola Petrović, director of International and Security Affairs Center (ISAC) from Serbia, and Jona Plumbi, journalist from the fact-checking service Faktoje in Albania, also shared their experiences.
The panel discussion served as a vital component of this year’s traditional Media Literacy Days in North Macedonia, which is observed from October 24th to October 31st. The theme for this year’s event is “Media Literacy in Digital Spaces.”
The MeDisInfo Research Cluster has been a member of the Media Literacy Network in North Macedonia and has actively participated in Media Literacy Days since 2020. These events serve as a platform to promote societal resilience and enhance understanding of the vulnerabilities associated with disinformation.
“Media Literacy Days” have proven to be an essential platform for fostering critical thinking and digital literacy, ultimately empowering individuals and communities to navigate the complex world of digital information and disinformation. The panel discussion “Building Social Resilience to the Adverse Effects of Disinformation” highlighted the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing in the fight against disinformation, and the Max van der Stoel Institute, along with its partners, continues to be at the forefront of this critical endeavor.
