The Media Academy hosted a seminar by international expert on media literacy and digital citizenship, Vitor Tome. Organised by the Georgian National Communications Commission, the seminar revolved around the topic of modern-day challenges and role of media literacy and digital citizenship. Attendees included members of GNCC, the Media Academy, the Ministry of Education and the media.

Vitor Tome shared best international examples of media literacy in the fields of education and media with the participants. The expert also assessed the existing capabilities, needs and challenges concerning media literacy in Georgia.

“I am here to tell you about media literacy in Europe today and discuss the activities of various organisations with you. I will tell you what the European Council and the European Commission are undertaking with regards to media literacy. The efforts that GNCC and the Media Academy are putting into development of media literacy in your country are vital for journalists and media organisations. Many people will benefit from this. You are also doing important work regarding media criticism, thereby training not just the media representatives, but the public as a whole. If you receive criticism for this, then you are doing your job right. We are all talking about media literacy as a media activity and media business today. Media literacy is needed both by media organisations and consumers,” Vitor Tome stated.

Vitor Tome is an international media literacy and digital citizenship expert who was a member of the digital citizenship group at the European Council for several years, working in the field of youth literacy and multimodal practices. Mr. Tome also headed the “Media in Europe for Diversity Inclusiveness” and “The Influence of Social Media on Democratic Participation” projects. He is a researcher in the fields of digital media literacy, multimodal practices among the youth, as well as digital citizenship and democratic participation in the education sector, heading the project titled “The Role of Digital Literacy and Media in Democratic Participation.” He is also lecturing postgraduate journalists and education specialists on the subject of media literacy and digital citizenship at various universities across Europe.