Youth Media Project is a follow-up initiative to The Berlin Youth Summit, organized by Digital Communication Network Global and World Learning. It was a three-day workshop for 60-70 Gen Z digital communicators and influencers from Europe.
The summit focused on digital communication and youth new media, bringing together digital natives to commemorate the 60th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech. This speech served as a starting point for reflection on the importance of communication and the power of words and images. It remains a symbol of hope, unity, and democracy that continues to inspire people worldwide.
The workshops provided a unique opportunity for Gen Zers to connect with their peers, learn from each other, and build skills to become effective communicators and advocates for the issues they care about.
What happened in Berlin?
On the first day, participants began with a city tour to understand the historical context. Subsequently, they translated the history lessons into content tailored for Gen Z.
The second day focused on skill-building sessions covering digital advocacy and communication techniques, including Social Media and Social Change, The Power of Storytelling, Building an Inclusive Digital Community, New Media, Speaking the Language of the Platforms, Gaming for Social Good, Personal Branding in the Digital Age, and Navigating the Metaverse.
The sessions were live-streamed, and you can view them on our YouTube account.
On the third and final day, participants applied the advocacy and communication tools to address important topics for Gen Z. They worked on a digital campaign on one of the following five topics: Authoritarianism, Climate Change, Mental Health, Human Rights, or Freedom of Speech. The aim was to educate and inspire communities about pressing social issues and encourage them to take action.
What do we propose now?
The context we find ourselves in is complex. With fast and radical changes in the consumption of information and media affecting young generations, the risk of failing to provide good quality information to young people is high.
Recognizing that young people often avoid traditional news and mainstream media, we understand the importance of shaping information so that young people can comprehend the world around them and actively participate in democracy.
With the Youth Media Project, we propose a way to inform young people—content created by young people for young people, meeting them where they are. Strong and trustworthy journalism should be a part of the youth's digital media experience.
The YMP focuses on Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern Europe, as well as parts of Asia (like Turkey).
In the coming weeks, you can find articles, posts, and videos on the blog section of the website and on DCN Global Instagram created by the young people who participated in The Berlin Youth Summit, covering various topics they are passionate about.
Enjoy,
The team.
*The project is implemented by DCN Global with Gen, știri and Forum Apulum