EAVI is thrilled to share the highlights from the second edition of the European Festival of Journalism and Media Literacy, Voices, held from February 27 to March 1, 2025, at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Zagreb, Croatia. Funded by the European Commission, Voices is an exciting platform that brings together journalists, media professionals, and citizens to spark conversations about media literacy and foster critical thinking in today’s information-driven world.

Each year, the EU-funded festival travels across different European cities, spotlighting media freedom and literacy as key pillars of democratic societies. This dynamic approach allows participants to explore diverse perspectives, exchange best practices, and nurture cross-cultural dialogues. By involving local communities, Voices creates a space where both international experts and young, media-active residents, including students, come together to collaborate. The goal is to inspire a sense of shared responsibility and ownership in every host city.

A Festival Built on Strong Collaborations

Voices is coordinated by EAVI in partnership with six prominent European organizations: European University Institute‘s Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom, the European Broadcasting Union, the European Federation of Journalists, Journalism et Citoyenneté, Lie Detectors, and Savoir*Devenir. This diverse collaboration ensures that the festival tackles today’s media challenges through a multi-stakeholder approach, drawing on expertise from journalists, media researchers, public service media, and media literacy experts. Together, these partners make Voices Europe’s first major platform for deliberation on media issues, offering valuable insights to professionals, decision-makers, and citizens alike.

A Dual Focus: Journalism and Media Literacy

What sets Voices apart is its dual focus on the future of journalism and the critical role of media literacy. The festival explores how journalism is evolving in a fast-paced digital landscape and how we can equip citizens with the tools to understand, navigate, and use media responsibly. By addressing both of these interconnected themes, Voices aims to empower people with the skills and knowledge needed to engage critically with media content and understand the shifting dynamics of journalism.

ZAGREB 2025

Building on the success at Florence, the Zagreb edition expanded the festival’s impact, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders to discuss pressing media literacy topics. EAVI played a central role in the festival, particularly in the Media Literacy Area, which gathered 26 representatives from various organizations to explore key issues shaping digital citizenship. EAVI’s contributions included:

Policy Roundtable: EAVI participated in discussions on media policies and their societal impacts, fostering collaboration between stakeholders and policymakers.

AI and Disinformation: Addressing the growing influence of artificial intelligence in the spread of misinformation, EAVI contributed insights into combating digital deception.

Digital Wellbeing: The importance of mental and emotional health in the digital space was a key focus, with EAVI engaging in sessions promoting responsible online habits.

Digital Parenting: EAVI facilitated discussions on empowering parents with the tools and knowledge to guide their children in navigating digital platforms safely.

The Click Trap: EAVI participated in discussions on the mechanisms of clickbait and how media consumers can avoid falling into manipulative digital content traps.

Awards Ceremony: EAVI was an integral part of the Media Literacy Awards ceremony, recognizing impactful initiatives that promote media literacy and critical thinking.

To know more, visit the festival website.

FLORENCE 2024

The inaugural edition of the Festival took place at the iconic Leopolda Station in Florence in March 2024, with the participation of more than 1300 people. EAVI was the coordinator of all the media literacy activities, including but not limited to
1) The panel discussions on media literacy topics such as artificial intelligence, digital well-being, digital parenting, and the global perspectives on media literacy.
2) The workshops such as Educare al pensiero critico and Corpi digitali in rivolta
3) the Media Literacy Stand which functioned as a media literacy information hub for the participants
4) The evaluation of the Media Literacy Awards applications and the presentation of the ceremony.

Below, you can access the EAVI Interview Series that was conducted during the first edition of the Festival with a number of people, including the panel speakers, Festival participants, media literacy awardees, and activists:

Lee Hibbard and Maria Farrell – Artificial Intelligence

Elizabeth Milovidov – Digital Parenting

Maura Gancitano – Philosophy in the Digital Age

Fabio Mauri – Fake News and Humour in Digital Media

Diletta Bellotti – Digital Bodies Revolting

Nicola Bruno – ML Multipliers Award

Participants’ Feedback