About the project

The INFORMATION MATTERS project is focused on developing and piloting learning materials for elderly people and training programme for adult education staff, with focus on digital and media literacy, in response to the implications created by the global infodemic, misinformation and fake news.

The INFORMATION MATTERS is based on the understanding that media literacy is the ability to evaluate, analyze, and understand media messages in all forms with a critical eye, while digital literacy helps individuals navigate an increasingly online world (incl. understanding how social media platforms, websites, and apps interact with society).

Project Objectives:

To enhance elderly people’s digital and media literacy competences, through the development and exploitation of innovative interactive learning materials with focus on tackling the infodemic, misinformation and fake news, expected to cause positive effect on at least 300 adults in Bulgaria, Romania and Austria during the project lifetime and at least 3000 across Europe by mid-2025.

To enhance adult education staff’s competences to effectively engage in building elderly people’s digital and media literacy, through the development and piloting of a training programme to directly upskill 120 adult educators during the project lifetime and at least 400 by mid-2025.

To promote the importance of and the benefits from enhancing elderly people’s digital and media literacy by effectively disseminating the project activities and results, reaching out to 3000 stakeholders from across Europe.

News

A media & digital literacy for adults conference to be held in Sofia

In mid-October, it is time to present the results developed within the 2-year long implementation of our Information Matters project. We invite you in Sofia on October 15, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Toplocentrala venue for the Information Matters: Practices for Enhancing Adults Digital and Media Literacy conference >>

08
Oct

Invitation for the INFORMATION MATTERS Online Conference

On September 26, from 14:00 CET, on the Zoom platform, an online conference with a title Information Matters: Enhancing Adults Digital and Media Literacy will be held, dedicated to the topic of media literacy with a focus on its acquisition by adult users over 55 years old. The event topic will be discussed >>

09
Sep

Our Digital and Media Literacy Education Courses Are Now Delivered around Europe

During the summer months of 2024 elderly users around three European countries are taking part in the pilot training programme on digital and media literacy developed by the Information Matters experts team. Over 300 people aged 55+ are offered the opportunity to acquire basic knowledge towards the practical application of >>

21
Aug

Digital Literacy Competencies and Interests of Elderly People: A Summary

In the increasingly digitalised world, the digital literacy of elderly people is a crucial yet often overlooked area. Iva Zadražilová and Pavla Vizváry’s research, documented in their comprehensive study, delve into the digital literacy competencies and interests of the elderly, focusing on those aged 65 and above. This summary highlights >>

05
Jul

Is digital ageism the new kind of discrimination?

Ageism limits older adults’ digital inclusion, perpetuating misconceptions about their tech abilities. Despite many using technology, gaps persist, depriving them of benefits. As society digitizes, digital literacy becomes crucial, but older adults often lag. Efforts focus on broadening digital literacy to include cognitive and social-emotional skills. Addressing fake news is >>

13
Jun

How to avoid disinformation regarding voting and campaigns?

A case study for elderly people going to vote. Key words: vote, citizens, seniors, disinformation, public. Background: Senior citizens are often long-time residents of their communities. This means they have strong social ties and an interest in ensuring their voices are heard regarding decisions that will shape their futures. >>

20
May

Almost 160 participants in the online courses start their training from the beginning of April

On the 2nd of April 2024 the training online course for training of adult educators on media literacy and digital literacy has started in Bulgaria and on the 5th of April in Austria. The online training aims to equip trainers with the necessary knowledge and strategies to effectively teach media >>

15
Apr

The European Festival of Journalism and Media Literacy

The European Association for Viewers Interest, along with its other six European organizations, has been awarded by the European Commission to organise the first two editions of the European Festival of Journalism and Media Literacy, Voices. The inaugural edition of the Festival will take place on March 14-15-16, 2024, at >>

19
Mar

Digital Transformation through Active Leadership

The digital age is characterized by a process of successive rapid changes, especially in the work environment. This, in turn, requires flexibility and multi-layered planning from managers, in sync with the ongoing processes of digital transformation. Leadership is indispensable in driving change and setting the tone for the digital culture >>

15
Feb

REBUILDING SOCIAL CONNECTIONS

The Role of Media Literacy for Elderly People In an age of rapid technological advancements, it is essential to recognize the potential of media literacy in combating social isolation among elderly individuals. With limited mobility and physical interactions, elderly people often find themselves disconnected from family, friends, and their local >>

17
Jan

How and Why would AI and elderly people bond?

It was (and still is) considered that the new technologies, and AI especially, is designed and made for younger generations and that the TV and radio are enough for people of a certain age, including seniors. However, this is not something that we should listen to or even consider as >>

08
Dec

Books and Courses to Demystify AI

The topic for Artificial Intelligence has become one of the most talked and the terms of technology, that is used most today. Innovations like Alexa and Siri are just a small part of processes entering in everyday life and even carry out tasks formerly considered too difficult for robots to >>

15
Nov

Media Literacy Training for Seniors to Fight Fake News: What are the Odds?

The European Commission defines disinformation as “false or misleading content that is spread with an intention to deceive or secure economic or political gain,” whereas misinformation refers to the same kind of content shared without harmful intention, regardless of its consequences. Disinformation is commonly referred to as ‘fake news,’ and >>

17
Oct

Aging in the Digital Era

Aging in the digital era happens in a challenging context The 21st Century is characterized by rapidly expanding digitalisation. Digital technologies can assist in learning new skills, facilitate social interactions, foster independent and autonomous living, and improve the management and delivery of health and social care services for aging populations. >>

06
Sep

The relation between Fake News and Artificial Intelligence (AI): a study for the (very) near future

Since the rise of AI in the world, the changes are more and more visible. We talk about changes in our daily lives, including the ones regarding news and media literacy. One of the most important assets we need to take into consideration is related to the fact that AI >>

08
Aug

Combating Fake News through Artists’ Lens

Facts In Focus is a collection of artwork from local artists and creators in Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Slovakia, designed to help people identify and respond to misinformation. Starting July 3, 2023 Meta – the company behind popular social networks like Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram – launched this campaign trying, as >>

04
Jul

What are the latest social media trends for 2023?

Among the latest research and data, a few social media trends clearly stand out to pay attention to. More on what we will face and what the challenges will be for users and content creators below: Short-form video is still the number 1. TikTok is the biggest among the social >>

16
Jun

Artificial Intelligence & Europe

On May 11th, the European Parliament Committees, specifically the Internal Market Committee and the Civil Liberties Committee, voted in favor of safeguarding fundamental rights in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act. The entire Parliament is anticipated to endorse these decisions during the session on June 15th. >>

19
May

Partner organizations meet in Sofia

After completing an introductory stage of working on INFORMATION MATTERS strategic implementation, starting April 2023 the partner organizations involved on the project enter together into a more intense work phase. It is related to the elaboration of both the educational content for users >>

10
Apr

Partners

FOR USERS

The educational series Information matters is a set of video tutorials for elderly people, each to give a non-formal lesson on certain aspects of media and digital literacy.

Available in 4 languages – English, Bulgarian, German and Romanian.

All of the videos serve as an introduction to the Information Matters Educational Training Programme designed according to the needs of users over 55 years and provided by certified adult educators who were trained to deliver the Information Matters course.
Media & Digital Literacy Training for adults 55+ takes place between June and September 2024 in Bulgaria, Romania and Austria.

If you are interested to take part in the training please get in touch with the local partner responsible for the training or write an email to contact@informationmatters.eu

Partners in charge of the local trainings:
BEST Institut (in Austria)
Global Libraries - Bulgaria (in Bulgaria)
CREFOP Foundation (in Romania)

Topics covered by the 10 video tutorial:

Media Literacy, Concepts & Theory
Media Literacy for Older People
Media Literacy and Technology
Media Literacy Hardware & Software
Media Literacy & Digital Well-Being

Media Literacy & Digital Services
Media Literacy & Social Media Platforms
Media Literacy & Disinformation
Media Literacy & Privacy
Media Literacy & Citizens Participation

FOR TRAINERS

Our Online Training Course on Media and Digital Literacy for adult educators is now available for a pilot testing.

The Course is specially designed to help trainers support elderly people aged 55+ gain the intermediate knowledge and skills within the current Media and Digital Literacy field.

It provides the opportunity for a self-paced digitally-based and self-contained training of adult educators.

The Training Course content is structured in 10 learning modules that will easily guide adult educators to learn more about media literacy, critical thinking, sensitive information and fake news and acquire the skills needed to train elderly users across a spectrum of digital capabilities.