Media Literacy and Information Perception in the Era of Artificial Intelligence will be Explored at the International Discussion Laboratory in Valmiera

It will be the first interdisciplinary event combining such fields in Latvia bringing together experts and practitioners of neurocognitive and communication sciences from Latvia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Estonia, Lithuania, Morocco, promoting the exchange of quality information and stimulating the professional discussion.

We invite everyone who works with gathering and processing information, especially those working in the areas of media and communication, to participate in the discussion laboratory. This event will also be useful for teachers working at various education levels, librarians, youth specialists, representatives of non-governmental organizations engaged in strengthening media literacy, and the teaching staff, researchers and students of higher education institutions. The discussions will be opened by the Ambassador at Large for Global and Multilateral Affairs – Special Envoy for Latvia’s UNSC Candidacy 2026-2027 Andrejs Pildegovičs, the Rector, Associated Professor and Lead Researcher at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences Agnese Dāvidsone, PhD, and the Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information of UNESCO Tawfik Jellasi.

The discussion laboratory will cover such stories and experiences as the use of artificial intelligence in the journalism education programs of the Nordic countries, the role of artificial intelligence in the information war - information perception and cognitive aspects, the perspective of psychology, the role of communities and the importance of digital skills in media literacy. But the discussion involving both experts and practitioners will expand on how to better investigate media literacy and cognitive aspects and how to better educate users. Kaspars Rūklis (Baltic Media Literacy Program at IREX) and Gunta Sloga (Baltic Centre for Media Excellence) will be the moderators of the discussions.

The programme of the discussion laboratory will include the official opening of the UNESCO Chair on Media and Information Literacy and Science Literacy which has operated in ViA since 2022 expanding opportunities for both students and teaching staff to explore and research these topics.

Head of Communication and Media Studies at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences Māra Arāja:
"The obtained rights of the UNESCO Chair on Media and Information Literacy and Science Literacy is a very important assessment of the active and purposeful work of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences in the field of media literacy research and education so far. The Chair has been operating at the University since 2022, but the activities in the field of media literacy have been taking place for much longer. We actively work in various media literacy projects, including the training we organized for regional media last year, our experts regularly go to schools to educate students and teachers about the latest trends, we also provide commentary to the media, organize and participate in various other media literacy projects. Both at the bachelor's and master's level, media literacy is given a lot of attention, thus creating future media literacy experts, because it is clear that this area is only becoming more and more relevant. The Chair allows these various activities to be combined together into one whole, and it will also contribute to new opportunities for providing research and study content by attracting network experts and their knowledge."

The discussion laboratory will take place on-site from 13.00 to 17.00 in Valmiera, Tērbatas Street 16A (in the premises of the "Wolmar" hotel) and can also be watched online. Translation into Latvian and English will be provided.

The participation in the event is free of charge. But for the sake of planning of the event, pre-registration is required by December 10 at the following link: https://ej.uz/12_12_2023

The event will be live streamed on LSM.lv and the Facebook page and YouTube channel of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences.

Agenda of Discussion Laboratory HERE.

Information prepared by:
Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences Communication Group
Phone: 26418755