Students awarded for media projects countering disinformation

AMMAN — As part of the “Media Clubs” after-school programme, 400 students aged between 14 and 16 designed and produced media projects to educate their peers and larger audiences on the importance of objective information and responsible online behaviour, and to counter misinformation and disinformation. 

Among the projects, an animation on cyber-bullying produced by a group of Media Clubs students at Al Fuheis Secondary School for Girls, and the “Bala’ Fabrakeh” podcast denouncing “fake news” by students at the Jumana Secondary School for Girls in Irbid, a podcast on critical thinking by students at the Mahis Secondary School for boys, IREX, an international education and development NGO, said in a statement.

Also among the projects is a multi-episode podcast on media literacy by students at the Princess Basma High School for Girls in Amman, which recorded 2,500 listeners. 

The 10 winning projects produced by “Media Clubs” participants and selected by a panel of media professionals and educators were recognised at Thursday’s ceremony by the Ministry of Education, the national education initiative Madrasati, the US embassy in Amman and IREX.

The award ceremony concluded a one-year media and information literacy programme run by 20 teachers as part of extra-curricular activities in 10 public schools in Irbid, Balqa and Amman during the last school semester and the summer. 

The “Media Clubs” combined skill-building training in critical thinking and information literacy, media production training, and discussions with professional journalists at local and international news organisations.

After receiving the training, students worked in small groups to design and implement media projects countering stereotypes, hate speech, conspiracy theories, cyberbullying, and other types of information manipulations.

Abdulsalam Shounaq, director of activities at the Department at the Ministry of Education, on behalf of the Secretary General Nawaf Ajarmeh, Madrasati Director Tala Sweis, US Embassy Public Affairs Counsellor Stefanie Altman-Winans and IREX Jordan Country Director Francesca Sawalha addressed the “Media Clubs” award ceremony.