MELI RESIST – Media Literacy for Resistance against Fake news, Disinformation and Misinformation

Project manager: Prof. Mateja Rek, PhD

Project duration: Oktober 2024 - March 2025 (6 months)

The project is partially funded by the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana

Project Focus

The MELI RESIST project is dedicated to strengthening people's resilience against online fake news, disinformation, and misinformation frequently encountered when using digital media. The project aims to stimulate discussion on the importance of media literacy and education for protecting democratic processes, public health, social cohesion, and trust in institutions, while empowering individuals to reasonably evaluate digital content and responsibly use credible online information.

Brief Project Description:

The MELI RESIST project aims to strengthen individuals’ resilience against online fake news, disinformation, and misinformation that people often encounter when using digital media. The project seeks to encourage discussions about the importance of media literacy and education to protect democratic processes, public health, social cohesion, and trust in institutions, while empowering individuals to reasonably evaluate digital content and responsibly use credible online information.

Key Project Activities:

  • MELI RESIST Stakeholders Forum
    The keynote speaker of the forum will be the world-leading authority in media and digital literacy, Dr. Renee Hobbs (Professor at the University of Rhode Island and Founder and Director of the Media Education Lab). Renowned Slovenian experts in the field will also participate: Dr. Mateja Rek, Dr. Igor Pesek, Dr. Sonja Merljak Zdovc, and Dr. Janja Mikulan.
  • MELI RESIST Online Resources
    Participants in the stakeholders’ forum will have access to content support in the form of current materials and examples of best practices in responsible behaviour and ensuring credible information online.
  • MELI RESIST Infographic will summarize the key highlights of the stakeholders’ forum and serve as a potential roadmap for future stakeholder engagement in media education and literacy activities aimed at strengthening individuals’ resilience against online disinformation.

Aktualno

The Slovenian Press Agency's reports on the MELI RESIST project📰✨
The Slovenian Press Agency has published an overview of the MELI RESIST project along with an interview with the project leader, Mateja Rek. Both are available at https://neja.sta.si/2882

#MELIRESIST #MediaLiteracy #STA

Building a Smarter, Credibly Informed Society!
We’re excited to share an infographic highlighting key insights from the MELI RESIST project! MELI RESIST is strengthening resilience against misinformation, disinformation, and fake news by fostering collaboration between academia, educators, government agencies, media professionals, and civil society.

Key focus areas:

  • Media literacy in schools
  • Training for teachers and professionals
  • Media-literate parents
  • Public awareness and informal education
  • Collaboration among media literacy stakeholders
  • Collaboration with media

Check out the infographic to learn more!
#MELIRESIST #MediaLiteracy #FakeNews #DigitalResilience #Journalism #CriticalThinking

Successfully Completed the Media Literacy Stakeholder Forum!
On Thursday, January 16, 2025, as part of the MELI RESIST project, we organized a forum on the topic: Building Resilience Against Online Fake News, Disinformation, and Misinformation. The event was held in a hybrid format—both in-person at the School of Advanced Social Studies in Ljubljana and online via Zoom—and brought together numerous experts, stakeholders, and enthusiasts in the field of media literacy. The event was partially funded by the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana.

🔑 The program included:
📌 Welcome speeches delivered by:

  • Jeremy Jewett, U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana
  • Mateja Rek, School of Advanced Social Studies and Faculty of Information Studies

📌 An inspiring lecture by world-renowned expert Prof. Dr. Renee Hobbs, who shared valuable insights into the field of media literacy.

📌 A panel discussion featuring exceptional speakers:

  • Igor Pesek (Ministry of Education, RS)
  • Sonja Merljak Zdovc (Časoris newspaper)
  • Janja Mikulan (School of Advanced Social Studies)
  • Mateja Rek (School of Advanced Social Studies and Faculty of Information Studies)

🔍 Key discussion topics included:

  • How can media education support resilience against fake news?
  • What is the current state of media literacy in Slovenia?
  • Why do we need a multi-stakeholder approach?
  • Strategies for future action and recommendations

💬 The event concluded with informal networking over refreshments and relaxed conversations, further strengthening connections and the exchange of ideas.

Thank you to all participants and speakers for their contributions! Together, we have taken an important step toward better understanding and addressing the challenges of the digital age. 🚀
#MediaLiteracy #MELIRESIST #ResilienceAgainstDisinformation #Collaboration

Discover Interesting Projects to Improve Media Literacy and Combat Disinformation!
In today’s digital world, it is important to be aware of the dangers of disinformation and to develop the ability to critically evaluate information online. Therefore, we invite you to explore the following projects that will help you understand how to protect yourself from fake news and develop media literacy skills:

Sufficient knowledge of media and disinformation is crucial for safe and responsible living in the digital world!

MELI RESIST: Recommended Current Online Scientific Sources

For those interested in in-depth analyses of the role of media literacy in ensuring the credibility of online information, we recommend the following scientific works:

Publications by Prof. Dr. Renee Hobbs, a leading expert in media literacy, available at: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=hLOmgL0AAAAJ&hl=sl&oi=ao

Research by Mateja Rek, Predrag Ljubotina, and Anja Bašin (2024): Media Literacy as a Tool for Addressing Fake News and Disinformation, funded by ARIS. This study provides a detailed insight into strategies for combating disinformation. Available at: https://pismenost.si/medijska-pismenost-kot-orodje-soocanja-z-laznimi-novicami-in-dezinformiranjem/

Contribution by Mateja Rek (2024): E-democracy in the EU, which examines the role of digital tools in the democratic processes of the European Union. Learn more at: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-56045-3_8

Prof. Dr. Renee Hobbs – A Globally Renowned Media Literacy Researcher at SASS!

We are delighted to announce that on January 16, 2025, our faculty will host the globally acclaimed expert and distinguished scientist, Prof. Dr. Renee Hobbs! 🏆

Renee Hobbs is one of the world’s leading scientific authorities in the field of media education and literacy. She is a professor at the University of Rhode Island and the founder and director of the Media Education Lab. Her work has been cited in more than 13,500 academic sources, underscoring her profound impact on the global scientific community.

You can find her CV on: https://mediaeducationlab.com/about/renee-hobbs

As part of the MELI RESIST project, co-funded by the U.S. Embassy in Slovenia, Prof. Hobbs will deliver a lecture on media literacy, sharing her remarkable expertise in a field that is vital in today’s digital media landscape.

This event is of great significance for our faculty, as it connects us with leading global trends and opens doors to understanding the complexities of the digital media world. We are excited to share this unique moment with you! 🎉

Qualitative Research Report: Media Literacy as a Tool for Addressing Fake News and Disinformation 2024

In 2024, as part of the Media Literacy Infrastructure Program at FUDŠ, we conducted focus groups with young people to explore their trust in media, their understanding of media financing and ownership, their information verification practices, attitudes toward personal data protection, and habits related to following news programs and political content.

What do young people say?

“For the sites that everyone knows and hears about every day, we believe they are true. But if we see some news or a site for the first time, we have doubts about believing it. We’re more likely not to believe it.”

“It depends on how much the headline draws me in. Even if it’s ‘fake,’ I click just to see what nonsense they wrote. Sometimes, though, even from a trustworthy source, the story isn’t true.”

“… at this age, I feel like I should know what’s going on. But honestly, I don’t want to know, because as soon as you start talking about it, everyone just starts arguing. No one ever agrees, and they never will. Before elections, I read up, make a decision, and go vote. But I really don’t want to discuss it at all.”

“Our opinions are also heavily influenced by influencers—what they say and post. Also, the opinions of others, like when you read comments, and based on that, you form an opinion… and even just the first thing you see can shape your opinion about a situation.”

“When it comes to fake news, I jump to conclusions too quickly. I’ll read something, maybe not even half the article, and I already form my opinion.”

“If my parents are watching the news and I feel like it, I’ll sit with them and listen, even if I don’t know what it’s about. Otherwise, they’ll just tell me about it. But on my own, to be genuinely interested, not really.”

The full report is available here: https://pismenost.si/medijska-pismenost-kot-orodje-soocanja-z-laznimi-novicami-in-dezinformiranjem/