Collaborative media literacy programme takes off in India

Chloe Howcroft (CH): Where did the idea come about to launch the BBC Young Reporter programme in India?

Marie Helly (MH): The BBC has been really interested in challenging disinformation in India for some time. In 2018 we held a “Beyond Fake News” season of events and stories – following terrible mob killings – linked to harmful fake news being shared on social media. We did pilot workshops with school children across India and held conferences. We also published original BBC research on how fake news was spreading – to ensure an evidence-based approach to our workshops and journalism.

Disinformation has continued to be a big problem in India so finding ways to help audiences recognise and value independent news they can trust is a priority for us. Covid exacerbated the problem and showed us how harmful misinformation about health and vaccinations can be.

So it felt like a really good moment to return to offering workshops to young people. The pandemic made face to face classroom delivery impossible, but it showed us that virtual workshops can be really powerful, and help us reach many more young people.

CH: Why is it especially important for a public media organisation to lead on and collaborate with other organisations to deliver media literacy initiatives?

MH: In a world of disinformation, we are increasingly aware that we need to work together with organisations that share our values – organisations that traditionally may have been ‘rivals’.  We might still compete for “scoops” with big news organisations, but our shared vision of trusted impartial news makes working together on shared initiatives a no-brainer.

We worked with Internews and DataLeads and we worked with them on a similar project the previous year – FactShala. BBC colleagues in Delhi and I were invited to help build a workshop programme for non-metropolitan communities – workshops that trained local citizens could deliver to communities in need. It had the same values as our own Young Reporter programme. So when we were given the funding to create a new workshop programme for India, we immediately thought of them as partners who could help create locally appropriate workshops, appoint and train trainers, and deliver the training. We had the background of working with students and they had the knowledge and networks to make workshops suitable for Indian students. They also had networks of media experts and fact checkers who could be trained to deliver the workshops.

In a world of disinformation, we are increasingly aware that we need to work together with organisations that share our values

CH: Why is it important to engage with younger people on matters related to trusted news and information for the future of democracy?

MH: I think working with young people on matters related to trusted news and information is really important. We know that social media is often the first place young people go to get their news or check information. They have few tools to recognise what is true and what is fake. They need to be given the tools to think critically.

Our priority is to get young people to ask questions; to think twice before they share unverified content. Young people need the information to be active citizens – basing their decisions about voting, or buying, or health choices – on factual and accurate information. BBC News aims to deliver that, but in a digital world, we need to engage audiences further. Our workshops encourage young people to examine their emotions when they read information and to understand if they are being manipulated into thinking or acting in a particular way.

I think working with young people on matters related to trusted news and information is really important. We know that social media is often the first place young people go to get their news or check information. 

CH: What plans can you share with me to expand the BBC Young Reporter programme, or other similar initiatives, in India and beyond? 

MH: We are currently talking to potential partners who could help us with distribution. We have put our content on the BBC Young Reporter India page so that it is now open-source content for educators to use. And we have created shorter bitesize workshops that are easier for teachers to use and understand. BBC journalists in India will also be delivering these workshops in schools.

A collaborative, media literacy programme of this nature could not be more important nor timelier as mis- and disinformation has been rife in India and elsewhere in recent years. Innovation is not always about reinventing the wheel but adapting existing ideas and resources that are proven to be successful to potentially solve other problem areas.

From videos and assembly topics, to workshops and interactive games, BBC YRI’s comprehensive array of training materials and other resources have been made available for more educators across India to access, and further improve media literacy.