EAVI is pleased to announce that a consortium of seven European organisations, including the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom, the European Federation of Journalists, the European Broadcasting Union, Journalism et Citoyenneté, Lie Detectors, and Savoir*Devenir, has been awarded by the European Commission to organise the European Festival of Journalism and Media Literacy, Voices.

The inaugural edition of the Festival will take place on 15-16 March 2024 at the iconic Leopolda Station in Florence. Voices will travel across different European cities every year, and EAVI will be responsible for coordinating all the media literacy activities.

The Festival marks a new departure from previous initiatives in the field, promising to bring fresh perspectives and insights to the forefront of media discourse. It also sets out to become a preeminent platform for dialogue and exchange, connecting journalistic and media literacy communities with European citizens.

From tackling media’s evolution in a rapidly shifting digital landscape to equipping citizens with the tools to navigate these changes, Voices will steer the conversation toward a more informed future. This will be achieved through curated sessions, interactive workshops, exhibitions, and networking opportunities.

Over two days, the Festival will explore the themes that shape our relationship with information and media today. These include media literacy and artificial intelligence, digital well-being, digital parenting, disinformation, elections’ integrity, and EU media policies, among others.

After Florence, this EU-funded initiative will embark on a journey across different European cities to spotlight media freedom and media literacy as essential elements for the functioning of our democratic societies. The second edition of the Festival will take place in Zagreb, Croatia, in February 2025.

Media Literacy Awards

Within the many activities of the Festival, we will be giving five media literacy awards, each offering the winners a €1,000 prize, rewarding clever ideas to build media literacy skills across Europe. The Media Literacy Awards comprises five distinct categories:

1. AI Trending Now: Clever ways to use Artificial Intelligence technology for ML.
2. Digital Well-Being: Nurturing mindfulness to contribute to a healthier digital environment.
3. Digital Parenting & Generations: ML initiatives to benefit parents, children, young and older people.
4. Empowering Citizens’ Engagement and Participation: Initiatives for election integrity and to fight disinformation.
5. ML Multipliers: Effective practices to replicate, multiply and transfer media literacy knowledge and skills.

The winners will be publicly awarded, and the deadline for submissions is 11:59 PM (CET) on January 31, 2024.

Please visit HERE for more information about the ML Awards and click HERE to submit your application!

Register here and take your seat at the Festival!

Registration is now open! Sign up HERE to guarantee a spot for the festival’s main sessions.

Follow EAVI to be among the first to receive updates on the festival, and visit the Voices website for more information: https://voicesfestival.eu

A Wide Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration for Real Impact

The project embraces a bottom-up and multi-stakeholder approach, drawing upon the rich expertise and knowledge of the consortium of organisations with extensive international networks comprising journalists, public service media, media literacy experts and media researchers. This collaborative effort ensures that the Festival will address the most pressing issues that affect our media societies today.

Voices will be the first European platform for deliberation, offering valuable insights to professionals, decision-makers and citizens alike.

A Dual Focus on Evolving Journalism and Media Literacy

The Festival’s unique character is further defined by its dual focus. It delves into both the evolving role of journalism in producing news in a rapidly changing media landscape and the crucial dimension of equipping citizens with the skills to decipher information and be able to use technology and the media meaningfully.

By addressing these two interconnected themes, the Festival aims to contribute to empowering citizens with the knowledge and skills necessary to critically engage with media content and understand the evolving dynamics of journalism.

An Itinerant Celebration of Diversity and Engagement

The Festival will be itinerant, moving across two European cities to promote cultural diversity and foster engagement. The inaugural edition is set to take place in Florence, Italy, in March 2024, followed by a second edition in Zagreb, Croatia, one year later. This dynamic approach will provide participants with the opportunity to explore different approaches, exchange good practices and nurture cross-cultural dialogues within Europe.

The Festival also aims to engage local communities in each host city. The spaces offered will therefore welcome both international experts and young, media-active communities, including students. By involving local residents, the Festival aims to create a sense of ownership and shared responsibility.