EUcheck International Journalism Project

Lyudmila Shesterkina, D.Sc. (Philology), Associate Professor

Department of Journalism and Mass Communications

Establishing a network of Journalism Schools (J-schools) in order to improve quality of political debates in European mass media and promote active participation of citizens in this process at all levels

General objectives:

• Supporting training of journalists and qualitative journalism, simultaneously increasing trust to new media;
• Contributing to accuracy of European political statements provided by mass media and politicians;
• Enhancing social participation in mass media along with media literacy;
• Promoting democratic values;
• Create motivation for distribution of verified information in mass media and social networks.

Objectives for Т1 (students and teaching staff):

• Elaborating an innovative educational module titled “Fact Checking” in order for student-journalists to obtain competencies for verification of European politicians' statements as well as facts connected to European policy provided in news and social media, and therefore develop their understanding of the process of the European Union policy’s functioning. Such programme can inspire student-journalists to become a part of new generation of European citizens and journalists who will be discussing the future of Europe and favour for further development of European self-cognition of citizens. Students should acquire general knowledge about situation in the EU, have access to European databases and experts, and possess technical skills for verification of facts. In order to address civil society, students will be taught to use working strategies in social networks and master communication skills with the purpose to motivate the audience for communication and create large communities. When students start performing fact-checking at the pan-European level, transnational cooperation through online meetings in virtual classrooms between groups of students, who are going to compare various national points of view, will be encouraged.

Objectives for T2 (citizens):

• Developing a EUcheck media platform in the Internet space, where local citizens via social networks will be offered to ask students to check statements, will favour for expressing daily concern about the future of Europe. In this determination to find answers to burning questions, democratic awareness and civic skills of both the society and future journalists will transform into a stable life philosophy. Thus, students contribute to social dialogue regarding European issues and create a link with European political agenda. Citizens who visit the EUcheck platform will also be able to review other fact-checking reports concerning their country or topic of interest, and therefore enhance their own literacy in interaction with mass media. Checking procedures will be based on constructive approach. The project is intended to call euroscepticism into question and help citizens better understand the procedure of policy’s functioning.

10 Master’s students of specialisation 42.04.02 Journalis

European Journalism Training Association (Belgium – EJTA)