In September 2020, the YES News Literacy Workshop gathered 43 YES alumni participants and five alumni mentors from 19 countries for an examination of media and news literacy topics. From December 2020 through February 2021, 23 alumni collaborated with more than 50 trainers, volunteers, and other project contributors to implement 13 follow-on projects. These 13 projects taught 429 participants to apply a critical analysis to news and information, identify misinformation and disinformation, and fact-check what comes into their newsfeeds. What a multiplier effect!

YAAN News Literacy Workshop

Jesse Maikarfi and Faith Daloba organized two news literacy workshops in Kaduna and Jalingo, Nigeria for a total of 40 participants between the ages of 18 and 35. Participants were taught how to distinguish between fake and legitimate news, find reliable sources of information, and fact-check competently. (Photo above)

Jesse Maikarfi (YES 2015-2016, Nigeria, placed with AFS-USA in New Lothrop, MI)

Faith Daloba (YES 2015-2016, Nigeria, placed with World Link in Colorado Springs, CO)

Youth for News Literacy

Igor Stojkov (YES 2019-2020, North Macedonia, placed with Greenheart in Northwood, NH) worked with a small NGO in his hometown of Veles, North Macedonia to organize a workshop on news literacy for 24 high school students, including two alumni. Igor taught participants the definition of news literacy, how to recognize fake news, and how to contribute to higher levels of media literacy in their country. At the end of each event, participants created posters that were printed and distributed in all high schools in the city.

#Fact-CheckersTraining

Ally Gakweli and Brian Bright organized #Fact-CheckersTraining, a workshop for 31 university students and young professionals at the American Corner in Nairobi, Kenya. Although the training included an overview of many news literacy concepts, it focused on fact-checking because most participants indicated they get most of their news from social media, especially Twitter.

Ally Gakweli (YES 2012-2013, Kenya, placed with AYUSA in Arcade, NY)

Brian Bright (YES 2011-2012, Kenya, placed with PAX in Cheboygan, MI)

What the Fact?

Aleksis Satka (YES 2018-2019, Albania, placed with PAX in Lehi, UT) organized a news literacy workshop on January 28 for 20 youth participants, including four alumni, from Albania. Aleksis taught the group how to recognize different types of information and check the reliability of information presented as facts. Participants also discussed their own experiences with encountering misinformation and why it is important to maintain a healthy skepticism when considering new information.

News Literacy Ambassadors Workshop

Emmanuel Salia Gaima and Allieu Christopher Moiwa organized a two-day news literacy workshop for 20 university students in Bo District, Sierra Leone, with support from Youth Rights Organization Sierra Leone, African Young Voices Media Empire, and the YES alumni network in Sierra Leone. Participants gained knowledge on misinformation, disinformation, and fact-checking methods. After the workshop, participants made videos to share these skills and pledged to serve as ambassadors against misinformation and disinformation in Sierra Leone.

Emmanuel Salia Gaima (YES 2013-2014, Sierra Leone, placed with CIEE in Leavenworth, WA)

Allieu Christopher Moiwa (YES 2013-2014, Sierra Leone, placed with AFS-USA in Enterprise, OR)

Fake or Fact?

Luh Widyaningrum (YES 2013-2014, Indonesia, placed with AYUSA in Lakeville, MN) organized an online workshop for seven individuals who work in the tourism sector, which has been hard hit by the pandemic, and three university students in Indonesia. Participants learned to apply critical thinking skills when processing information on the internet and social media. Participants then presented their own examples of misinformation they encountered online and shared how they fact-checked it. 

Making Sense of the News

Kanish Djaker (YES 2019-2020, India, placed with AFS-USA in Sitka, AK) organized a workshop for 60 ninth- and tenth-grade students at the Global Gateway Hi-Tech School in Anuppur, Tamil Nadu, India. Participants learned to distinguish between real and fake news through real-life examples. Participants also learned common types of misinformation and discussed the repercussions of misinformation on society.

Check Your Facts

Al Fayad Hossain Khan and Faiza Mahjabin organized three virtual workshops to teach 66 high school students in Bangladesh how to identify misinformation and use fact-checking skills in their daily lives, including reverse image searches and lateral reading. In a post-workshop survey, 100% of participants indicated that they plan to use fact-checking in the future and 84% of participants intend to share their skills with others.

Al Fayad Hossain Khan (YES 2018-2019, Bangladesh, placed with CIEE in Lake Stevens, WA)

Faiza Mahjabin (YES 2018-2019, Bangladesh, placed with IRIS in Harcourt, IA)

News Literacy Training for Young Leaders in Bulgaria

Elitsa Stoeva and Anjela Ibrahim conducted a news literacy training with the help of six alumni mentors, who Elitsa and Anjela trained prior to the event. The project taught 32 high school students in Bulgaria about social media algorithms, misinformation, disinformation, and fact-checking. Participants then practiced their new skills through activities in six small mentor groups. Alumni also promoted the YES program by sharing about their on-program and alumni experiences.

Elitsa Stoeva (YES 2016-2017, Bulgaria, placed with ASSE in San Antonio, TX)

Anjela Ibrahim (YES 2019-2020, Bulgaria, placed with ASSE in Saint Louis, MO)

Let's Fact-Check Today's News

Ivania Ananta, Dewangkoro Rinugroho, and Tantri Fricilla Ginting held two virtual workshops for 42 high school students and young adults from over 20 cities in Indonesia. The workshop was supported by the Deputy Director of the Jakarta Post, Kharisar Kahfi. Each workshop had four components: a seminar on disinformation and misinformation and fact-checking, breakout rooms for fact-checking practice, Q&A time, and a closing session.

Ivania Ananta (YES 2016-2017, Indonesia, placed with PAX in Princeton, LA)

Dewangkoro Rinugroho (YES 2014-2015, Indonesia, placed with PAX in Birmingham, AL)

Tantri Fricilla Ginting (YES 2014-2015, Indonesia, placed with CIEE in Big Piney, WY)

Cameroon News Literacy Workshop

Yosimbom Sakinatu and Hawa Yasmine organized a workshop for 18 high school students in Ngaoundere, Cameroon. The workshop taught participants about media literacy, discussed misinformation and the effects it has on one’s community, and trained participants on how to fact-check news through interactive activities and group work.

Yosimbom Sakinatu (YES 2018-2019, Cameroon, placed with PAX in Farr West, UT)

Hawa Yasmine (YES 2018-2019, Cameroon, placed with AFS-USA in Mequon, WI)

Online Fact-Checking Workshop

Sefeda Lazaj and Krista Spahillari from Albania teamed up with Mamadou Doucoure from Mali to organize an online fact-checking workshop. The program attracted 35 participants from countries including Albania, Mali, Israel, Palestine, and Turkey. Alumni led participants through a general overview of news literacy followed by an exploration of information neighborhoods, which include news, opinion, propaganda, and disinformation, and how to distinguish between them.

Sefeda Lazaj (YES 2019-2020, Albania, placed with Aspect in Broomfield, CO)

Krista Spahillari (YES 2019-2020, Albania, placed with CIEE in Kearney, MO)

Mamadou Doucoure (YES 2016-2017, Mali, placed with Aspect in Oakford, IL)

Introduction to News Literacy

Ghizlane Akourim (YES 2015-2016, Morocco, placed with FLAG in Indianapolis, IN) facilitated an online training on news literacy for 20 participants in Morocco. Ghizlane taught participants about information neighborhoods, newsworthiness, disinformation versus misinformation, and fact-checking tools. The workshop closed with participants sharing their impressions on the importance of news literacy in their communities.