The Department of Communication Sciences of the Faculty of Integrated Communication Sciences (FICS) at the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) with support from Penplusbytes and DW Akademie has organized a two-day training workshop on Media and Information Literacy (MIL) for selected youth leaders in Kumasi in the Ashanti region.
The training workshop which was held from the 27th to 28th October 2021, at Excelsa Hotel, Ejisu Kumasi was part of activities marking the 11th Global MIL week celebration and was on the theme “Media and Information Literacy for the public good”.
Speaking in an interview with MynewsAfric, Mr. Stephen Tindi, a lecturer at the Department of Communication Sciences and a Facilitator at the training explained that, “ the aim of the workshop was to equip youth leaders in the Ashanti region with the skills and competencies to discern and understand media content effectively”
“The youth leaders were also trained to apply social responsibility and ethical principles in media content production and distribution.” he said.
Addressing the participants in a brief pre-recorded address, Ms. Abena Benewaa Fosu, MIL Project Manager at DW Akademie, on the other hand said, “daily, individuals, groups and organisations must scrutinize information before they utilize it.” She also encouraged the participants to share their newly acquired knowledge with their peers and continually improve their media literacy levels through self-study.
The 2-day workshop was attended by some fifteen (15) youth leaders, who were selected from Youth Based Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Social Enterprises and identifiable youth networks. The organisations represented include RU Care Foundation, Inspire Before You Expire (IBYE), Women’s Haven Africa, Kumasi Hive, Hapa Space and Global Youth Network, Ghana.
At the end, the participants could not hide their excitement when they received their certificates after completing the training and expressed their gratitude to the Department of Communication Sciences and its partners for bring the training to the Ashanti region for the first time.
Background
Media and information literacy is a set of competencies that enables people to use media and information effectively. The Global MIL week celebration was instituted by United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 2012 as an annual celebration of progress made in achieving the global target of MIL for all. MIL week also presents an opportunity to encourage the effective use of media and information.
Over the past 3 years, the Department of Communication Sciences at the Ghana Institute of Journalism has organized Media and Information Literacy training workshops for over 100, in an attempt to promote media and information literacy beyond the classrooms or lecture halls, but it is the first time the event was held outside of Accra.
The successful training have been made possible through the support of Penplusbytes and DW Akademie with both organisations being passionate advocates for media literacy. The two organizations have supported MIL initiatives in Ghana in diverse ways including the establishment of an online MIL Hub and the production of ‘Rumors’, a film series designed to teach young people how to resist misinformation and disinformation.
