Marea Media – Waves of change: young journalists for Europe

Journalism has two key roles in all societies: one as a democratic right and one as an educational tool. However, the rise of social media and the demand for instant information have contributed to the spread of misinformation and disinformation, exacerbated by social and political divisions across Europe. This project addresses these challenges by using journalism as a pedagogical tool to counter disinformation and hate speech by making young people actors of change in their communities, locally as digitally.

‘Waves of change’ wants to raise awareness with young people on their Euro-Mediterranean identity. The project involves media literacy and journalism after-school classes for students between 15 and 18, living outside of big cities in two Southern Italian regions, Puglia and Campania. It also involves an immersive “Young European Journalist Summer Week” for Southern Italian teenagers, in which participants will learn about multimedia journalism with international tutors, gaining skills to think critically and report about their regions in EU contexts. The participants will partake as special judges in the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights documentaries competition during Marea Media’s flagship event in February 2025.

Granted: 20,000 euros