The workshop will introduce successful experiences encouraging citizen critical thinking and media literacy, including through NGO Fund supported initiatives. The discussions will focus on best ways to transfer and reinforce such experience across Europe, including through joint action.

Now more than ever before, populist movements benefit from the development of new media and social networks as a means to build appeal and electoral bases. It has been shown that far from allowing for civil and constructive dialogue, new media and social networks are actually contributing to more polarisation in democratic societies. While there has always been a general tendency for people to acquire information mainly from sources to which  they feel ideologically closer, new media has contributed to increase political divisions. In the new information age, the role of the traditional media to provide objective and verified information has been waning as news outlets struggle to survive and adapt. Populist messages thrive in this new realm of ambiguity and confusion.

Pavlina Capkovicová, Analyst at Demagog.sk (Slovakia)

Zdeněk Jirsa, Fundraiser & Project Coordinator at Demagog.cz (Czech Republic)

Krzysztof Izdebski, Policy Director at ePaństwo Foundation (Poland)