Mediathon

The Baltic Centre for Media Excellence (BCME), in collaboration with DELFI, Tartu University and Re:Baltica, is excited to announce the launch of the Mediathon — a one-day event aimed at empowering young people across the Baltic States to create impactful social media content. The event is open to young creatives aged 18-23 from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, offering them a unique opportunity to sharpen their skills, connect with media professionals, and collaborate with like-minded peers.

The Mediathon will take place in Riga, Latvia, on February 1, 2025, at the vibrant creative hub Kalnciema kvartāls. This event invites participants to team up and craft engaging, scroll-stopping social media content around issues that matter to them and their peers, such as:

● Environment
● Health
● Migration
● Social rights
● Or any topic that resonates with the local community

The goal of the Mediathon is to develop a concept for eye-catching, shareable content that highlights media literacy elements — critical thinking, fact-checking, myth debunking, and exposing disinformation. At the same time, it must resonate with young audiences and inspire action.

What’s in it for participants?

● Expert-led training at the DELFI newsroom on January 18, 2025, in Latvia, Lithuania, or Estonia. Training will cover essential skills like critical thinking, fact-checking, mobile journalism, data visualization, and social media marketing.
● A paid trip to Riga for the Mediathon event on February 1, 2025.
● Opportunities for collaboration with media professionals and peers, enhancing participants’ content creation skills.
● Valuable career connections and insights into the media industry.
● Prizes for the top teams: Each winning team will receive an Apple iPad 10.9″ and a 2nd generation Apple Pen. All participants will be rewarded with exciting prizes.

Eligibility Criteria:

We are looking for participants who are:

● Aged 18-23
● Residing in Latvia, Lithuania, or Estonia
● Passionate about creating content (textual or audiovisual)
● Familiar with social media trends and engaging with peers online
● Eager to explore creativity and develop skills in content creation

Application Process: Please fill in the application form found at Baltic Centre for Media Excellence website by January 10, 2025. Selected participants will be invited to the pre-Mediathon training session at their local DELFI newsroom (in Riga, Tallinn, or Vilnius) on January 18, 2025. Based on their engagement during training, 10 top participants from each country will be invited to compete at the Mediathon in Riga.

Timeline:

● Application Deadline: January 10, 2025
● Training Date: January 18, 2025, in DELFI newsrooms (Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius)
● Mediathon Date: February 1, 2025, at Kalnciema kvartāls, Riga

This is an exciting opportunity for young people in the Baltics to gain real-world experience, enhance their media skills, and make a meaningful impact. The Mediathon is part of the BECID project, supported by the Baltic Centre for Media Excellence (BCME), DELFI, and Tartu University.