After a super-packed and successful run in October 2022, we're back with another edition of our Re-Imagining Media Program from 8th April to 21st May 2023.
This time, it's bigger and better!
35 students, 10 media mentors and 1 goal:
to re-imagine media, for a better tomorrow!
About | Apply | FAQs | Program Schedule
Re-imagining Media?
But why?
Does the news sometimes makes you go like this - 🙈 ?
Do you question “whatsapp forwards” or wonder if social media is the right place to find facts?
Do you wish you could write stories and use your voice for social impact?
Are you exhausted by the amount of information you sometimes end up consuming?
Well, you're not alone.
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Fake news has real consequences
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India has more fake news than any other country in the world
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Stanford researchers evaluated students' ability to assess information sources and described the results as "dismaying," "bleak" and "[a] threat to democracy."
Mental Health Concerns
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Excess consumption of stressful, negative and sometimes even violent information can lead to elevated stress, anxiety and changes in mood and behaviour
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Much like the air we breathe, the information we consume is becoming increasingly polluted.
But, we're on a mission to fix it !
(Information pollution, not air quality)
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Say hello to our Re-Imagining Media program
where we empower students to become responsible consumers and innovative creators of media,
for a better tomorrow!​
Re-Imagining Media Program =
Media Literacy + Journalism
📌 Learn from journalists, fact checkers and other media professionals
Every weekend students learn from a new Media Mentor i.e media professionals from India's leading media platforms like The Hindu, The Print, Youth ki Awaaz etc. Here's some advice from our mentors from the October 2022 cohort. ​
📌 Learn a new skill every week!
Each of our weekend sessions is focussed on one media literacy skill (like fact checking, sourcing accurate information etc) and one creator skill (like reporting, editing , recording a podcast etc).
See how our students put their propaganda identifying skills to use here.
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📌 Apply your skills to create content for diverse media platforms
Our Media Mentors set the most exciting task for our participants - from recording a podcast to designing an email newsletter- you'll do it all!
See how students from our previous cohort used memes to talk about the importance of fact checking here.
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📌 Create your own email newsletter
Our Media Mentors will train students to run their own newsletter for the course of the program. Through their newsletters, students share the learning and show off their skills to their peers, teachers and parents.
Check out this blog by one of our participants from the last cohort.
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📌 Get personalised feedback through weekly coaching calls
To help our participants put out only the best content and explore their skills as media professionals we conduct personalised training and feedback meetings for our participants.
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📌 Participants meet like minded students from across the country
Our cohorts are super diverse- we have students from all over the country, with varied interests and skills. But they have one thing in common - the desire to re-imagine our media landscape.
Here's what students can accomplish with media literacy and journalism skills :
Create content for change
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Media literate students can communicate effectively and create digital content to spread awareness or advocate for a cause using media platforms ranging from Instagram to newspaper articles!
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​ Become skilled for the workforce
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Media literacy helps students to prepare for success in the workforce. In today's digital age, many jobs require employees to be able to navigate and understand media. By teaching students media literacy skills, we are equipping them with the tools they need to succeed in a variety of careers, from journalism to marketing to public relations.
Become informed decision makers and strengthen democracy
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Media literacy allows students to critically analyze the information they receive from various sources, including social media, news outlets, and advertisements.
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Media literate students can identify and source reliable, balanced information and make informed choices.
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Develop healthy digital habits
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With media literacy students can make more conscious choices about the media they consume and the messages they internalize.
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This can help them to develop healthy habits and relationships with media, which is increasingly important in an age where we spend so much time online.
(A study conducted by the Internet and Mobile Association of India in 2019 found that only 22% of students surveyed had a good understanding of digital literacy concepts such as cyberbullying and online privacy)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the program duration?
The program is 6 weeks long, from 8th April to 21st May 2023.
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2. Where is the program being conducted?
These sessions will be conducted online through Zoom meetings.
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3. Who can participate in the program?
Students from Grade 8-12, anywhere in India.
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4. How much time will the program/sessions take?
Each week there will be 1 Masterclass and 1 Coaching Call.
Masterclasses will be held on Sundays mostly. Some sessions may be conducted on Saturdays (based on the avilabilty of Media Mentors). Coaching Calls will be held on Wednesdays/Thursdays for one hour in the evening. Refer to the program schedule for more details.
We estimate that you will require to spend 4-5 hours per week (including sessions + time to work on creating your own newslettres, podcasts and other media) on the program.
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5. What do students get when they complete the program?
Students who complete the program will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the program. Certificates will also be given to students for their outstanding contributions.
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6. How much does the program cost?
The program costs Rs. 4000 per student participant.
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7. I can't afford the program fees. Can I get a scholarship?
Yes, absolutely! We don't want money to be a deterrent for worthy students to gain from this experience. Please indicate why you need a scholarship in the application form itself.
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8. Once the program is over, then what?
Glad you asked! Students will graduate from the program as student journalits and once a journalist - always a journalist! So upon their graduation, we'll invite students to be part of the Student Journalists of India Collective - a community of student journalists exploring opportunities in the journalism and media and supporting each other so greater student voice is present in the media.
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9. I want this program to come to my school. What can I do?
We're so happy you said that! Drop us the email ID of your principal or teacher, and we'll send them a proposal for the program! You can also ask your teacher to sign up for a free introductory workshop for students here.
Program Schedule
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Applications for the Re-Imagining Media Program are open till Monday, 3rd April 2023
In case of any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us at vianewsdidi@gmail.com
We'll be happy to help :)