Media Information Literacy: CSOs as Changemakers for Digital Empowerment

In today’s digital landscape, Media Information Literacy (MIL) stands as the cornerstone, providing individuals with essential skills to navigate the vast sea of information and counter the rising tide of disinformation and misinformation propagated by various state and non-state actors. Bridging the digital literacy gap is a critical task, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) emerge as pivotal actors entrusted by society to educate communities and advocate for policies safeguarding rights and freedoms in the digital realm. As changemakers in the broader context of human rights, CSOs play a transformative role in championing the cause of a digitally literate populace. Their efforts ensure that community members can navigate the digital realm confidently, free from concerns about cybersecurity, privacy, freedom of expression, bullying, or falling victim to digital inequities. In this session, participants will delve into the diverse MIL projects undertaken by various CSOs across Asia. These initiatives, encompassing capacity building, training, workshops, curriculum development, and community projects, contribute to the journey of ensuring and empowering digital rights. Additionally, the session will address the challenges faced by CSOs in facilitating MIL across different locations and occasions to promote a digitally literate society.

The event is a part of the Digital Rights Programme, co-convened by Asia Centre and Google Asia Pacific. Asia Centre and Google Asia Pacific built “Digital Rights Programme for Civil Society Organisations” spanning for nearly a year, which started in December 2023 to engage International NGOs (INGOs) and their CSO partners that currently work on the issues facing digital rights in the Asia-Pacific region. The programme is covering a series of thematic online and onsite activities to address potential gaps that CSOs experience in collaboration when working under this programme.

Speakers:

1. Anik Pichaya Charoonpongsakdi, Member, ASEAN Youth Advisory Group
2. Thanh-Giang Nguyen, Visiting Senior Fellow with Media, Technology and Culture Programme, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute
3. Intan Faradila, Project Officer, ASEAN Foundation
4. Syed Mohammed Idid, General Manager, Strategic Communications & Stakeholder Engagement, West Coast Expressway
5. Andreas Grigo, Programme Director of Digital Resilience and Dialogue, DW Akademie
6. Chhan Sokunthea, Executive Director, Cambodian Center for Independent Media

Date: 16 May 2024
Time: 5 PM – 6.30 PM (GMT+7)
Venue: Google Meet
Registration: https://forms.gle/DAm1oPbQ91hqNAMe8
Contact: karin@asiacentre.org