Conference titled "Development of a Scale for EMI Level Measurement (Media and Information Education) and Testing for Students in the 18-24 Year Age Group" was held today. This is the closing event of the project of the same name. During the conference, the findings of the project were presented in two parts that correspond to the two main project objectives.
The first part of the project relates to building a ladder for EMI level measurement (Media and Information Education), looking at and analyzing various previous theoretical and methodological models, as well as those applied to this project as well as in this discipline of Education over the Median. While the second part of the project is about testing this measuring scale in students in Albanian universities.
Media and Information education was measured in 11 dimensions such as using; thinking; verification;analysis; creation; spending; connection; informing; protecting; choice; participation. According to the project findings, the level of education on media and information, measured through a scale of 1-5, ranges from the defense dimension which is the lowest level by 3.22, to the analysis dimension, which results in the highest level , 3.94
Over 270 students from Bedra University College, University of Tirana and Alexander Xhuvani University in Elbasan participated in the scale testing.
The whole activity was conceived in the form of a conference-workshop, where after presenting the results, there were questions and discussions. During the discussions, today's need for EMI and especially the need to measure, not only among students but also at other social levels, and the innovations the project brings in our country were highlighted.
The study was carried out by members of the Department of Communication Sciences at Bedër University College Dr. Erlis Çela, MSc. Alban Tufa and MSc. Melsena Danglli.
This project is financially supported by the Public Relations Office of the US Embassy in Tirana, within the framework of the Project "Development of Media and Information Education in Albanian Universities".
Representatives from the Faktoje.al organization conducted a training today with the students of our department.
The training held by Mrs. Viola Keta and Mr. Endi Kalemaj, was divided into two modules, where the first module consisted of a general explanation of fake news and disinformation. Ms. Viola accompanied the explanation of these phenomena with concrete cases that occur in Albania.
She also showed students some of the tools to check photos and videos to see how real they are.
The second module consisted of the work and practice followed by Faktoje.al from the morning meeting where they see the statements or promises and up to the verification in the field which is the last fact for the verification of a case.
One of the difficulties they encountered was meeting the person making the statement.
"We ask the person himself, even though it's not an easy thing," she said.
Another point that Ms. Viola also mentioned the strongest weapon of a journalist, the law on the right to information.
Mr Andy then explained from a legal perspective how the courts work weighing how secret information is and whether it should be accessed or not.
"As journalists, you never have an obligation to provide the means of identification, that is, the ID," he added. Letting you students understand that they as future journalists have the full right to seek information.
As part of the orientation days, first-year students in the "Communication Science" and "Public Relations and Marketing Communication" programs conducted a visit to the premises of Report TV.
Together with the lecturer Rudi Dunga, the students were welcomed by Mrs. Anisa Meçi, director of the Marketing Department.
The students visited the Marketing office, directing, editing, news and broadcast studios, getting information on how they work, from writing a news story, editing, recording the voice to its display on the screen.
Ms. Anisa spoke a little more about the marketing department, the cooperation they have as a group to market this television in the best way. She also explained the different ways companies are advertised on television.
In a friendly conversation, the students showed that they had a very interesting experience and understood more closely how a media works.
As part of the orientation days, the first-year students in the "Multimedia and Graphic Design" program visited today the technological center "Tumo Tirana".
The students were introduced to the premises of the center, under the guidance of Mrs. Imelda Zeqo, trainer at "Tumo Tirana". Ms. Zeqo explained to the students the different disciplines in which he operated, mentioning here: animation, graphic design, programming, 3D modeling, robotics, etc.
The experience at "Tumo Tirana" for the participants started with the first phase, which was otherwise known as the "self learning" phase, where they worked independently on their projects with the help of various tutorials. Afterwards, professors from the relevant fields conducted workshops with each group, these workshops consisted in the realization of a final project. Each member of "Tumo Tirana", at the end of this experience, was equipped with his own portfolio, which constituted a very important element for each of them.
"Professions such as Multimedia and Graphic Design that you have chosen are professions that do not die, professions that have a job market", Mrs. Zeqo.
The Department of Communication Sciences at Bedër University College has organized today a workshop on "How to address misinformation about vaccination against COVID-19". A workshop presented by the Association of Health Journalists to journalism students in order to show care in reporting pandemics or similar situations.
Invited to this workshop were Mrs. Sonila Mlloja, journalist of RTSH and Mrs. Alma Demiraj journalist at Top-Channel.
This workshop started with the importance of reporting on the current situation we are in, where information about COVID-19 has become very important in everyone's life. Mrs. Sonila explained about the phenomenon called "infodemi". By placing themselves in the role of society who are confused before the excessive dominance of information.
She further told students about the spread of misinformation, misinformation and false news which during the pandemic period became a "trend". They also talked about the consequences that this information brings to society in pandemic situations.
"We as journalists will report on the pandemic, because people need information, but do not mention cases and victims in your reports," said Ms. Sonila. She also linked this to the way it is reported in these cases, showing caution with hyperbole expressions and simplifying the news in order to be understood by the general public.
Mrs. Demiraj gave a great importance to the confrontation between myths and facts, concretizing it with an example from her reports. In the COVID-19 situation myths have been present regarding vaccination and a part of society has believed them. This has also happened due to the fact that journalists have not spoken with facts about a myth spread by people. The case of the most discussed myth in Albania is "Vaccine causes infertility". Facing this myth with the facts of concrete cases then the public will also think differently.
At the end the workshop closed with a message to students on reporting and presenting facts in pandemic situations taking into account the consequences that may remain in a society.
Through a collaboration between the Department of Justice and Communication Sciences at Bedër University College, an open discussion was held on the topic: "Management of cases of use of hate speech with a religious background in the form of denigration, stereotyping and stigmatization."
The presentation of this project and the development of the discussion was held by Mr. Robert Gajda, representative of the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination.
The purpose of this discussion with the students was to involve and raise their awareness on the issue of hate speech. There was talk of various cases which have appeared on Albanian television screens where there has been hate speech by opinion leaders and television personalities. The focus was more on hate speech with a religious background and an example was given about this phenomenon that occurs in our country.
The discussion continued with how to prevent or raise media awareness on this issue. Thus showing the importance of the media and journalists in preventing this phenomenon by not differentiating any part of society regardless of religion, ethnicity or personal choice.
In this discussion there was a lot of interaction between law students and those of communication in the liaison on how to act both legally and by the media.
At the end of the discussion Mr. Robert asked the students if they would encounter such cases where hate speech is used to contact the Commissioner for Protection against Discrimination immediately to be followed up.
The Department of Communication Sciences organized the seminar on "Communication that brings development". The guest of this event was Fation Dragoshi, manager of the project "Ability to work", a project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC, SwissContact.
Mr. Dragoshi shared with the students his 15 years of national and international experience in leading positions related to the labor market, economic development and employment.
This seminar discussed the importance of vocational education and how we can promote this education. Many reasons were mentioned why this education is not preferred by young people in our country, where family influence was above all. Despite the difficulties to change the mentality of Albanians in relation to this issue, Fationi stressed that good communication can bring many positive results in changing the mentality of the society where we are.
"I found it very difficult to choose the person who would deal with the communication of the project," he said, emphasizing the importance of communication in the development and impact of the audience to achieve the goal of the organization.
The meeting was quite interactive as the students discussed with each other and engaged with questions and answers. Arguments and counter-arguments among students were constantly present, but at one point it was agreed that only through communication can the development and integrity of a society be achieved.
Network "Equality in Decision Making" and the Department of Communication Sciences at Bedër University College organized today the workshop on: "Freedom of the Media". The students were introduced to the "Make it Visible" initiative, represented and coordinated by Edlira Çepani.
Also broadcast the first episode of the feature series "Katrori i Pushtetit", a production of "Era Film", inspired by the reality of investigative journalism in the Albanian media. Further discussions took place with experts on media freedom in Albania, where guests were: Robert Budina, director and screenwriter of the series "Katrori i Pushtetit"; Klodiana Lala, journalist; Aulon Kalaja, activist and journalist.
During the workshop there were discussions between the guests and students of Bedër, where the latter as future journalists asked questions about the problems faced by journalism in our country.
The episode that was broadcast aroused a lot of discussion and curiosity among the students, due to the fact that this production through "Square" (Politics-Business-Crime-Media) transmitted the journalist's difficult confrontation to find the truth and the challenges of survival.