New Media Center

Young Media Watchdogs

Under this program, NGO Info-Centre, Youth Education Forum and the New Media Center, organizes a three-week workshop intended to introduce the high school and university students to the media scene in Macedonia, issues of propaganda and political marketing. The program is intended to develop with the participants a critical approach to the information on offer, acquire the ability to comment the media offer on basis of arguments and learn how to use the new media (blogs) to present their views and opinions to the public.

The first of the four workshops will be held in the period from March 11 to March 29, 2007, with 12 participants.

The workshop will cover the following topics:

• Introduction: Propaganda and Media – Biljana Bejkova, NGO Info-Centre
• Politics, Media and the Public Opinion – Marko Trošanovski, Institute for Democracy
• Critical Thinking and the Media – Pavlina Karanfilova, NGO Info-Centre
• Debate, Presentation of Arguments and Critical Thinking – Marjan Zabrčanec and Bojan Maričić, Youth Education Forum
• Use of New Media – Darko Buldioski, New Media Center

Upon completion of the four workshops, the participants interested in future collaboration will have an opportunity to publish their views and comments on the newly created Young Media Watchdogs blog. The publication of comments and views will be conducted under the mentorship of Darko Buldioski, Marjan Zabrčanec and Bojan Maričić.

The project is supported, in part, by a grant allocated by the U.S. Embassy in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. The views, opinions and recommendations presented here are held by their respective authors and shall not reflect, in any way or fashion, the views and position of the U.S. Government or the U.S. Department of State.