The core of MEDIATHON was focused on critical thinking, countering disinformation and reducing stereotypes in minority communities. The program’s combination of a media campaign hackathon and expert-led workshops provided invaluable hands-on experience in crafting impactful, meaningful messages, fostering critical thinking, and developing professional skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Journey<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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• September 13: MEDIATHON kicked off with a project launch, as participants were introduced to the event and engaged in expert workshops covering the creation of communication content. On first day the initial campaign ideas were created, with participants brainstorming creative ways to convey their messages.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
• September 14: The participants developed comprehensive work plans for their campaigns, laying the groundwork for the intensive two weeks ahead. These plans would serve as the blueprint for turning their ideas into reality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
• September 15-28: Participants worked on their projects, supported by expert mentors who provided guidance on refining ideas, building content, and ensuring effective communication strategies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
• September 29: Participants present their completed campaigns. They shared not only the finished content but also the behind-the-scenes journey of creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

  Expert Guidance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  MEDIATHON 2024 was bolstered by the expertise of media and communication professionals:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Zane Garga\u017eina, Director of Latvian Television, provided insights into content creation formats and effective presentation techniques.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Anatolijs Golobevs, Editor-in-Chief of Rus.Delfi.lv, shared his knowledge on content creation principles and audience behavior, helping participants understand how to engage and resonate with their target audiences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Agnese \u0112\u0137e-C\u0113sniece, BCME Project Manager and former manager of major marketing and communication projects at Latvian Television, led discussions on how to plan and execute communication campaigns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Looking Ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The creativity and hard work of the participants won’t stop here. In October, the three best campaigns from MEDIATHON 2024 will be featured on the news portal Rus.Delfi.lv, giving participants the opportunity to see their ideas make a real impact in the media landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    MEDIATHON 2024 was more than just an event\u2014it was a stepping stone for young creatives to grow, challenge themselves, and gain invaluable skills that will shape their future careers in the media and beyond. With a focus on empowering youth to make meaningful contributions through multimedia, the event demonstrated the power of creativity and critical thinking in fostering positive change in society.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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    • BECID and Estonian children magazine T\u00e4heke are organizing a comic competition \u201cHow to be good on the internet?\u201d<\/a> All kids aged 5-10 years are welcome to participate and submit their work. The competition is coordinated by Annaliisa Post (UTARTU). <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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      Publications and media<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      • “Baltic democracies beyond the EU accession: media as a bearer of democratic culture and means of resilience in navigating uncertainties<\/a>” by Auks\u0117 Bal\u010dytien\u0117 (VMU) was published on the “Journal of Contemporary European Studies”.  You can read a short overview of the paper here<\/a>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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        • Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences produced and published a TV programme<\/a> on disinformation and fact-checking. The programme is currently in Latvian, but they plan to add English subtitles soon. Guests of the programme are professor J\u0101nis Buholcs, leading researcher at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, and Evita Puri\u0146a, editor of Re:Baltica’s “Re:Check” section. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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