AIM
The spread of both disinformation and misinformation can have a range of consequences, such as threatening our democracies, polarising debates, and putting the health, security and environment of EU citizens at risk. (Digital Strategy, European Commission). People over 55 years old, falling outside the formal educational system and workforce training, may be left without adequate media literacy to function properly in our digitalized society. Therefore, it is critical to prevent the possible exclusionary effects of digitalisation on adults by providing them with media education. Providing MEDIA LITERACY training and teaching JOURNALISM can prepare elderly people to become effective communicators – and can help them sift fact from fiction.
Older people lack critical thinking skills when assessing information, the ability to find relevant information, the use of the Internet to defend their rights and interests, education and self-development. As a result, older people themselves often become victims of ageism in the media. Through the project BonJour, we plan to improve the MEDIA LITERACY of older people, through JOURNALISM and DIGITAL SKILLS ENHACEMENT which in the long term will contribute to their social activism and reduce the digital divide between generations. It is more relevant than ever to develop not only face-to-face, but also ‘blended” training formats for adults over 55.