Media Literacy Week has officially launched in Armenia, themed “Media Literacy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”

For seven consecutive years, the Media Initiatives Center (MIC) has celebrated this event by organizing courses, discussions, and master classes in Armenia in collaboration with its partners. This initiative brings UNESCO’s annual Media Literacy Week to Armenia.

During the opening ceremony of the week, Nune Sargsyan, the executive director of MIC, reflected on the early days of this initiative. She noted that when it began, there were no supporters, no funding, and the public had little understanding of what media literacy was or why it was important.

“Years have passed, and I am pleased that the term ‘media literacy’ is now widely recognized. However, we are increasingly concerned about its proper use, as media literacy can be dangerous when confounded with propaganda,” said Nune Sargsyan.

RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan emphasized that they are introducing an educational toolkit into the system that is feasible only in the presence of media literacy.

“Project-based learning, which involves working with various sources of information, is an effective teaching method. This requires both teachers and students to select appropriate sources of information. This skill is essential in everyday life, regardless of one’s educational level or field of study,” said Zhanna Andreasyan.

The minister also spoke about the latest technologies, admitting that sometimes they respond late to the rapidly changing realities. Therefore, it is necessary to understand how to respond to them quickly and effectively.

“In the field of public education, we offer two courses dedicated to artificial intelligence. While we recognize that AI presents opportunities, it also poses significant challenges for education. We have observed a rise in plagiarism cases linked to AI, where original content is substituted with AI-generated texts. This situation highlights the need for the educational system to develop a strategy to address these challenges,” added Zhanna Andreasyan.։ 

John Alelo, the director of the Armenian mission for USAID, states that media literacy is likely the most critical topic today as it affects everyone.

“We believe that the media plays a significant role in the information process because it not only informs people but also fosters critical thinking. This is crucial for the development of a democratic society. In today’s digital age, society has access to vast amounts of information, and identifying information manipulators is an essential skill. There is still much work to be done in this area. Media literacy will help us take a significant step forward in addressing this challenge,” Alelo stated.

Frank Hess, the head of the cooperation department at the EU delegation in Armenia, highlighted two significant issues in the world: first, that many events are not reported adequately, and second, that false information is being widely disseminated.

“Those who engage in this practice are very intelligent. When I encounter information, I often cannot determine if it is true or whether it has been spread with malicious intent. Therefore, I believe that media literacy is essential. Our capacity to understand media messages is crucial as it helps us combat misinformation. The promotion of media literacy in Armenia aims to foster an informed civil society,” emphasized Frank Hess.

Stefan Malerius, the head of the “South Caucasus Political Dialogue” regional program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF), agreed with these views. He emphasized the importance of influencers who produce media content and can, in fact, contribute to the spread of misinformation.

In summary, Korina Chepoi, the director of Armenia’s media development program, emphasized the importance of media literacy for everyone. She stated that media literacy enables individuals to decode information and navigate controversial information flows effectively.

During Media Literacy Week, various events are scheduled to take place. More information about the program can be found here. On November 7 at 4:30 p.m., an interactive discussion titled “5×5+1: Media Literacy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” will take place at the American University. This event is open to anyone interested in participating.