Media literacy as a weapon for citizens against manipulation.
In the modern media environment, where information is ubiquitous yet often unreliable, media literacy becomes a crucial tool for safeguarding truth and democratic values. By strengthening media literacy, we build a more resilient society, empower individuals to seek and share accurate information, and create a space for professional, independent, and credible journalism that serves the public interest. This is the conclusion drawn by participants in the panel discussion "Media Literacy as a Citizen's Weapon Against Manipulation," organized by the Press Council.
Ana Martinoli, a full professor at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, emphasized at the outset that media literacy could be described as a set of knowledge and skills that enable us to distinguish between what is true and verified in the media space and content that aims to deceive us.
"Fake news does not have to be completely fabricated; rather, it can be presented in the wrong context, omitting parts of the facts so that we do not have a realistic picture. What appears completely convincing does not have to be true. Technologies present a particularly significant challenge, as we cannot regulate them fast enough due to their rapid development, which contributes to the chaos of information and confusion," Martinoli assessed.
According to her, there is a general distrust of the audience in traditional media, and all segments of society must be involved in the process of media literacy for citizens.
Nemanja Marinović, editor of the youth portal Zoomer, pointed out that the younger audience uses social networks for information and that they "hate to click."
"Our strategy is therefore to keep them engaged on the platforms, to provide them with a sufficient amount of information—all the most important content in one place—so they do not have to switch applications. Those who want to read more can visit the website and check out, for example, the full interview or article," Marinović noted.
As he added, media cannot produce content for young people if they do not have young journalists in their editorial offices.
Professor Ivana Stojanović Prelević from the Faculty of Philosophy in Niš highlighted the necessity of working on media literacy for the older population as well, not just the young, as they often cannot distinguish journalism from propaganda that influences their beliefs.
"Everyone should be involved in media literacy, especially the media, which can reach all citizens," Stojanović Prelević stated.
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