About the project
The motivation behind the “VOICE: Visionary Outreach in Inclusive, Credible, Ethical Journalism for Youth” project is deeply rooted in the pressing societal challenges we face in today’s complex digital landscape.
These challenges include the proliferation of misinformation, ethical lapses in modern journalism, and the unfortunate sidelining of individuals with disabilities from pivotal public discussions.
Tackling these issues has never been more important, especially for the youth, who are avid consumers of digital media but often lack the necessary skills and resources to critically navigate it.
Representing a robust consortium of five organizations from Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Spain, VOICE seeks to provide a unified, yet culturally diverse approach to educating and empowering the youth in ethical journalism and media literacy. The geographic diversity of our consortium ensures that the project outcomes will address a broad spectrum of cultural norms and attitudes, thereby enhancing its impact and applicability across the European Union.
Media literacy is more than just a skill; it’s a civic duty. In an era of fake news and disinformation, the ability to discern credible sources from false narratives is a critical life skill that directly contributes to active citizenship. VOICE aims to transform young people into not just discerning consumers of information but also responsible producers of credible, ethical
journalism.
Furthermore, this project aims to break down the barriers that prevent young people, particularly those with disabilities, from fully participating in the journalistic, as well as overall civic and democratic landscape. Their exclusion deprives society of essential perspectives and voices that can enrich our understanding of the world. VOICE aims to provide these individuals with the tools and platforms they need to be heard, thereby fostering a more inclusive and democratic society.
Our project uniquely integrates the twin objectives of media literacy (including media production) and inclusive education for those with disabilities. Although there are initiatives that focus on either media literacy or inclusion separately, the synchronized approach of VOICE sets it apart and makes it particularly deserving of development. Moreover, the multi-pronged strategy of VOICE—which includes educational modules, a digital platform, advocacy campaigns, and public awareness initiatives—ensures a holistic approach to tackling these issues.
At the core of our motivation is the drive to empower young people to be educated, active in the democratic processes, to have an opportunity for their opinions and initiatives to be received and embraced by the world, and for barriers to that happening to be lowered, creating a more inclusive society across the EU. Through active collaboration with media organizations in the VOICE platform, we want to give young people with disabilities a voice and amplify it as it is needed.