OSCE Mission expands the reach of youth trained on media and information literacy in Kosovo

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo concluded on 26 April 2022 a series of ten workshops on media and information literacy and digital media literacy for high school students. The workshops empowered students across Kosovo on how to use media literacy skills and critical thinking to identify fake news, disinformation and misinformation.

A total of 260 students from 12 high schools participated in the ten workshops since March 2022. This is the sixth consecutive year that the OSCE Mission has organized lectures with students on the topic of media literacy. Since the first round of workshops in 2017, the Mission has reached nearly 900 Kosovo Albanian, Kosovo Serb, Kosovo Bosniak, Kosovo Gorani, Kosovo Roma, Kosovo Ashkali, Kosovo Egyptian and Kosovo Turkish students and youth.

“With internet as the primary source of information for young people in Kosovo, it is crucial that they understand the importance of being “digital natives” and develop critical thinking skills when interacting with online content. These workshops have provided them with the vast tools of media literacy that they can utilize in today’s digital world,” said Arben Hajredinaj from the Mission’s Media Section.  

The current media landscape has increased the need for media literacy. In response, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo undertook a number of activities targeting diverse groups and audiences, including through televised educational shows, campaigns, and trainings on media and information literacy for students of public universities and for elementary and high school teachers.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is mandated with human rights protection and promotion, democratization and public safety sector development. It helps safeguard freedom of media and freedom of expression and supports media development.