On November 11, Tetiana KOVALOVA and Nataliia PONOMARENKO, professors at the Department of Journalism and Philology of the Faculty FPSC, SumDU, attended the International Conference "Media Literacy in Times of War and Global Transformations" held in Kyiv.

The event was organized by the NGO Ukrainian Institute of Media and Communication in partnership with DW Akademie, with financial support from Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the OSCE Support Program for Ukraine, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and ZINC Network.

The conference featured a packed program with multiple discussion panels and a diverse lineup of engaging speakers, including international experts.

Nataliia PONOMARENKO shares:

-The war in Ukraine has highlighted that media literacy isn't just an academic subject but a crucial skill-building process that should start as early as primary education and continue into higher education. During various courses, it's essential to focus on information hygiene and media literacy as a necessary skill for young people. The spread of misinformation, manipulation, and propaganda through various channels poses challenges that shape public perceptions and behaviors. I'm confident the event achieved its goal of inspiring new ideas and tools for media education and fostering experience exchange.

During the conference, speakers analyzed the development of media literacy in Ukraine as a vital defense against distorted information during wartime, emphasizing the need to equip people to discern truth from falsehood in an increasingly complex media landscape. Discussions also covered topics such as international collaboration to enhance global media literacy, strategies for working with vulnerable audiences during wartime, adapting media literacy to the rapid evolution of AI, and addressing the challenges posed by digitalization and AI advancements.

A keen sense of curiosity, a dedication to lifelong learning, and a sharp eye for verifying information are the essential tools wielded by the students and faculty of the FPSC, SumDU, to navigate and shape an ever-evolving media landscape.