As we stick to social distancing measures, distance learning has become a new norm, bringing online learning opportunities as important as ever. With high schoolers and their teachers, university students and their professors taking it all online, we have gone through the adaptation process, now looking for ways to make online learning more effective, interactive, and engaging. As in every crisis, we saw that there lies an opportunity too, in both formal but non-formal education.

The way we frame things is important and people sometimes struggle to find the right words in the Lithuanian language, especially when talking to their older relatives. This document is intended to be a resource for global Lithuanians by laying out some vocabulary to help us talk about race, power, and privilege within our circles of influence. Feel free to share the document with friends and family members who may find it helpful.

This is a fantastic opportunity for young journalists from EU countries contribute to the social change and to carry out a period of full time international voluntary service in Lithuania.

An international panel of exiled journalists and migration experts will discuss the results of a European project investigating ways of improving media coverage of migration issues at a conference in Vilnius on Friday 28 June.

What would Muslim refugee say about Lithuania? How are refugees portrayed by national media? What does it look like in an international context? Why would a group international experts from Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK, to come up with slogans like “AreUListening” and “Voice4Voiceless”? What proposals have international experts come up with after analysis of Lithuanian media headlines?

As part of the Voice4Migrants closing event, young journalists and bloggers are invited to submit articles, videos, podcasts radio pieces and other journalistic works on the theme ‘Migration: Telling a different story’.

It is our pleasure to announce the big international group of 25 activists and journalists who will be visiting Lithuania on a ‘fact-finding’ mission under the legend “Voice4Migrants” from 7-12th of June. If you see your name on the list below, congratulations, you are now part of the Dream Team of changemakers.

We invite you to attend this International Conference on 28 June 2019 in Vilnius, Lithuania and participate in panel discussions about the work of partners organizations in the Voice4Migrants project. The Conference will focus on existing challenges, opportunities, and perceptions through analysis of the activities and outcomes of the project. But it will also set an agenda for media professionals and the newly elected European Parliamentarians. Deadline for applications: 5th of June.

Launch of the #WeDeserveBetter – #MesNusipelnomeGeriau campaign. This Europe-wide NGO-led campaign will run from the beginning of May until election days between 24th- 26th of May, before and during the European Parliamentary elections.

We are pleased to announce the “Voice4Migrants” team of change-makers who will join the Open Event in Hungary on 8-12 of May. If you see your name on the list below, congratulations, you are going to experience an event that has never been implemented before!

Words matter. Especially when they come from the media. But how positive or negative is media coverage about migration and how does this coverage affect the perceptions in society?

We are pleased to announce the inspiring journalists who will have the opportunity to tell a different story of migration! If you see your name on the list below, congratulations, you are now closer to challenge the reporting of migration issues, while working with 25 colleagues from all around Europe.

Do you think it’s time for positive change in the way migrants are represented in the media? Do you think politicians who manipulate people’s fears and use hate speech should be challenged? Can you help to make the voices of migrants be heard?

Do you think it’s time for positive change in the way migrants are represented in the media? Do you think politicians who manipulate people’s fears and use hate speech should be challenged? Can you help to make the voices of migrants be heard?

Media4Change is inviting journalists to a 2-day international round table to explore ways of enhancing coverage of migration issues across Europe, to coincide with the 17th San Sebastián Human Rights Film Festival in Spain. Travel and accommodation included.

Media4change is always trying to find new innovative ways and different angles of the stories in order to give voice to the voiceless. We are constantly working on joint projects with editors, journalist and human rights experts to make our vision come to life.

What happens when 20 dedicated young leaders are gathered in one training in Lithuania?

We are happy to announce that we have completed our selection process; the team of international changemakers is ready! Check your name on the list and prepare yourself for a unique workshop, where you will apply your skills, fresh ideas, and knowledge. We look forward to working together and bring the change that our divided world needs.

Will you be the one that will take a lead and the rest will follow? Will your ideas change the way media are REpresenting migration issues and challenge politicians WHO manipulate people’s fears and use hate speech? Apply now and participate in “Voice4Migrants” strategic planning workshop in which you will create a work plan for an international group from at least 7 different countries.

This is a fantastic opportunity for young journalists from EU countries contribute to the social change and to carry out a period of full time international voluntary service in Lithuania. The call is open to all young people, age 18-30. We are waiting for your CV and Cover letter by 25th of March 2018 Applications must be sent to [email protected]

“Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain”, said Povilas Poderskis at the training “Let´s go Public” in Vilnius. During 5 days, more than 20 young journalists from all over Europe produced multimedia content about abuses of power and established a network of professionals, open to the general public, to report on corruption.

Recent initiatives and new attitudes from Lithuanian institutions open a context where legal gender recognition for transgender people seems closer than ever.

Media4Change team has recently traveled to Perugia, Italy, to attend the 17th International Journalism Festival. Guided by the aim to share knowledge, participants of this festival suggested many useful resources to make life of investigative journalists even more exciting.

Jempson is a journalist, international trainer and university lecturer who has been involved in co-operative journalism projects. he is the Director of the journalism ethics NGO MediaWise. He thinks that local media can work as a network all over the world, covering local stories, connecting them and turning them into global issues.

He shared with us some of his reflections on journalism and The Bristol Cable, an innovative investigative newspaper with which he is involved.

A seven minute walk in the heart of Vilnius old town is all that separates the UNESCO Gallery from the Jonas Mekas Visual Art Center. During those 7 minutes in November and December, one could have had an imaginary journey through 70 years of Lithuanian history.

Anybody visiting these art galleries would have been introduced to Majd Kara, Ramūnas Paniulaitis and Jonas Mekas. All three visual artists have faced pivotal moments in Lithuanian history: Democracy, Soviet System and post-war.

The European Youth Press as well as its Member Organisations and other partners focus on informing media makers about all levels of corruption and empowering them to tackle it effectively. For media makers, corruption is a key topic twofold: media is one of the main institutions in society responsible for detecting, deterring and reporting on corruption, while simultaneously being prone to and often affected by corruption. Young media makers and citizens are vital in changing society’s perceptions and tolerance of corruption.

Countries, in which this project will take place, have been purposefully selected for their national corruption situation. Some countries have a very good track record and can bring positive examples to the debate, whilst others have serious challenges with regards to open and established corruption schemes in the public and private sector, extending even to media institutions and journalists themselves. You can read more about objectives and stages of this project at the end of this call. The Reporting Corruption project is supported by the European Youth Foundation of Council of Europe.

‘Four years ago we started our bid for freedom. Now, all are dead or in prison’, Kholoud Helmi said. She is a journalist and Human Rights Activist who participated in the Syrian Revolution from the beginning, in 2011. She found the best way to face oppression was by creating an underground newspaper, Enab Baladi, which is still being printed and distributed in Syria today.

Nils, the investigative journalist, believes that good journalism involves analyzing and reporting on every aspect of the story and asking all the questions needed. Even when those questions may seem difficult, or situations too sensitive. ‘When you are not asking critical and tough questions, this is not showing respect to people, but pity’, he says.

The Media4Change team has been long working towards establishing the Investigative Journalism Center for Eastern and Central Europe focusing on topics of human rights violations and it seems that the goal has just came closer to the reality. The project has been selected as one of 10 best European media startup initiatives to participate in the mentorship program ‘Diversity Accelerator (Div-A)’ which is run by media experts and funded by the European Council.

So far, Lithuania has become a shelter country for very few refugees fleeing the war-torn Syria. Moreover, many of those who come are trying to escape soon after. But Redwan Eid, a Syrian journalist who had no other choice but to leave his homeland, has decided to stay in Lithuania. He launched the crowdfunding campaign inviting everyone to support journalism which helps to facilitate the integration of refugees to Lithuanian society.

“I am a young journalist from Turkey. I have worked for news agencies and newspapers before and I am very passionate about my job and also about human rights.”

That is how I described myself in job applications. Let’s check it again, honestly.

Intolerance, harassment and bullying. Urtė is only 17, but she has to carry on the weight of discrimination at school on her shoulders. Matas would have liked to get more support in his family. Božena thinks that villages are in a worse shape than cities. Because Urtė, Matas and Božena are LGBT, they will experience far more difficulties in their daily lives. This investigation gives an insight in the lives of LGBT-people in Lithuania.

It is around eight o’clock when a group of women gathers to play their weekly basketball game. This is not so strange in a country where it is more likely to be able to score a three-pointer than to ride a bicycle. Yet, 50% of all Lithuanians think that these women should not necessarily have the same rights as other citizens.

The Media Diversity Institute shows in this article the unethical attitudes of the European media when they report about migrants and refugees’s issues. In the cases here analysed media strongly contribute to spread the hate speech.

The full scale of refugee crisis has become known to the wider public only when news programmes and newspapers ran it as top story in 2015. The question is why many mainstream media and journalists failed to report on migration of people from the conflict areas such as Syria, Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan, before the crisis occurred at the borders of the EU?

The Global Investigative Journalism Network has published a final Research Desk for 2015, with tips on “pinging” websites and new reports on world population, weather disasters, the information society, and more.

History of Lithuania’s investigative journalism has not yet been written. Some would say that there is not enough material for that, while others might claim that investigative journalism in Lithuania has died in its infancy, together with a violent murder of a journalist Vitas Lingys in 1993.

This is a fantastic opportunity for young journalists from EU countries contribute to the social change and to carry out a period of full time international voluntary service in Lithuania. The call is open to all young people, age 18-30. We are waiting for your CV and Motivational (Cover) letter by 10th of July 2016 00:00 GMT. Applications must be sent to [email protected]

The restrictions on the freedom of expression and action don’t affect only media but also NGOs. The Global Investigative Journalism Network has published a very interesting analysis about the measures which have been taken against civil society’s initiatives over the years.

The International Journalists’ Network has shared an interesting article about the protection of digital assets from governments’ interferences.

After the attacks in Paris, a new Islamophobic rethoric has been spread. The Media Diversity Institute analyzes faults and mistakes that journalism should not have done.

Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world for a journalist. An interesting article from Media Diversity Institute clearly portrays which is the situation in the Country.

Will you stand for the highest standards in Journalism? If you believe that there is no place for racism, xenophobia or hatred in the media, take part in a training programme for young journalists in Catania, as a part of an international project “Reporting diversity: an ethical representation of migrants and minorities”. The deadline to apply is 4 September 2015.

The limits of free speech vary from country to country and journalists are often threatened and imprisoned because of repressive measures. Media Diversity Institute provides an Handbook launched by Thompson Reuters Foundation and produced in partnership with Reporters without Borders, which aims to inform journalists about freedom of expression principles in law.

In the Balkans political and religious leaders condemned the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris, but a serious debate about legislation of freedom of speech in the countries didn’t follow. “The Charlie Hebdo Effect in the Balkans”, published in Media Diversity Institute, confirm this fact.

According to this article, written by Will True and published on International Journalists’ network, journalists should not only explain the issues, but also think about solutions.

In UK the proposal of a legislation “against channels which broadcast extremist content”. But Media Diversity Institute reports that the debate is controversial: will it lead to censorship or to a stronger protection against terrorism?

Media Diversity Institute underlines the importance of diversity in newsrooms and media system. Only 15 percent of daily newspapers in the US had a person of colour in one of their top three newsroom leadership positions, says the 2014 Newsroom Census conducted by the American Society of News Editors (ASNE). According to a 2014 study by the American Press Institute […]

Media Diversity Institute (MDI) reports the outcomes of the panel about freedom of expression and responsible journalism: “Journalists are these who map our reality and that is why journalism must be responsible”.

An interesting article written by Hugh Muir and published on The Guardian: we have to listen to those who have suffered social deprivation.

Media Diversity Institute published a report created by the School of Peacemaking and Media Technology. The report analyzes hate speech in local media, digital security challenges and cyber threats, as well as political pressure.

Freedom House says restrictive new laws and violence against journalists resulted in a global decline of press freedom during 2014, bringing the world’s press freedom to its lowest point in more than 10 years.

An interesting analysis created by Media Diversity Institute shows how European media outlets portray the issue of immigration as if the European Union did not have any responsibility.

On the 17th– 20th of January 2015, last meeting of project “Address of Human Rights – Journalism” took place in Lithuania. International project, better known by the name Media4change, lasted two years and connected partners from Lithuania, Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, Latvia and United Kingdom. The meeting was finished with a result dissemination conference, attracting a major media attention and inducing positive change. “Exactly after the presentation of the research on the image of socially vulnerable groups in media, the journalists started to change their ordinary view and take the ideas from the conference into consideration. Responses as these give hope for further depiction enhancement of socially vulnerable groups.” – said the project manager and the director of the National Institute for Social Integration Neringa Jurčiukonytė.

The satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo has featured the prophet Muhammad on its front cover once again. The Prophet is crying, just as did the cartoonist who made the cover. The headline says “All is forgiven”.

For the occasion of International Tolerance Day Media4change together with NISI (National Institute for Social Integration) organised a discussion with editors and vulnerable groups.

Media4change and NISI (National Institute for Social Integration) is launching a discussion on behalf of International Tolerance Day. It is called “Media in terms of stigmatized society groups: is it reflecting or creating reality”.

National Institute for Social Integration which initiated movement of Media4change organized a creative workshop for journalists participating in Media4change competition. Competitors are journalists who have to prepare a work of investigative journalism. In the workshop of 25th-28th of September also participated professional journalists such as Skirmantas Malinauskas (15min.lt), Rytas Staselis („Verslo žinios“), Dovydas Pancerovas (15min.lt), Vaidotas Beniušis (BNS) and others who were consulting participants. We invited BBC specialist Paul Myers, who talked about research on the Internet. The topic of human rights and corruption were revealed by experts from NGOs (Tranpsarency International Lithuanian Department, Kaunas women society, Coalision “I Can Live”, the researcher of Roma community etc.).

On 19-20 of June the journalists from Western Lithuania regions participated in trainings “Human Rights in Media: Ethical and Legal Aspects of Portraying Socially Vulnerable Groups” aimed at fostering advancement in issues concerning fighting hatred and assuming legal responsibility in written word, assess one’s skills according to the opinion of the experts and representatives of socially vulnerable groups.

How to control the information from judiciary institutions?
How to identify hate speech?
How to react properly?
These and many more questions will be answered by international movement „Media4change”, which is organising trainings for journalists “Human Rights in Media: Ethical and Legal aspects of portraying socially vulnerable groups”.

Started in 2013 the project Media4Change is continuing to run its’ course. Media4Change has already completed half of the planned activities joined by 90 journalists from 13 countries to work for the highest-quality journalism. ‘We can never be fully objective because of our prejudices, likes and dislikes. However, I think that in the last four days journalists have come to understand how important it is to find a balance between what we think and what we write’ – said Joy Francis.

“We, journalists from all around the Europe, are taught to make a stand, to look at things from a privileged position. In order to write differently, we have to think differently and that is the main challenge” – said journalist Alessandra Abate. Since the time for journalistic investigations is coming to an end, journalist from many countries, are finishing their investigations with multiple issues concerning social environments in their countries.

International set of journalists participated in the journalist training on 10-13th of October 2013, held in Lithuania. The purpose of all professional journalists gathering together was to learn more about hate speech: the aim of the programme was to enable journalists to recognize hate provocation and stereotypes and to learn how adequately react to them in their day-to-day work practices.

Twenty-five senior print, online and broadcast editors from Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Romania and UK gathered in Cagliari, Sardinia from 24-26 October 2013 to share their approaches, opinions and experience on increased evidence of hate speech across Europe.

To the “Media4change” training that took place in Trakai, Lithuania gathered 20 journalists from 14 European countries. The meeting was organized to discuss issues of ethics and higher standards in journalism and the main focus of the training was how to deal with hate speech while informing society.

Will you stand for the highest standards in Journalism? If you believe that there is no place for racism, xenophobia or hatred in the media, take part in a training programme for journalists in Lithuania, as a part of an international project ”Address of Human Rights – Journalism“. The deadline to apply is end of 1 November 2013.

Across Europe populist and extremist movements are manipulating peoples’ fears and prejudices to build support for their divisive policies at a time of economic crisis. Inciting hatred against unpopular social groups is a classic strategy to gain visibility and garner votes, especially in times of economic crises.

What is the role of the media and journalists when hate speech is on the increase? Who should decide on the limits of freedom of speech? How do media professionals in other countries tackle the problem of hate speech and discrimination?

Nevena Lyubenova was one of the participants of the „Media4Change“ seminar for international group of joung journalists held on the 21st of June, 2013. The event tackled such topics as hate speech and representation of socially vulnerable groups and minoritines in media. Seminar enjoyed contributions from the representatives of often marginalized groups in society, who shared their experiences and views on the topic. The acquintance with one of them Viktoras Topol, inspired her to write this article.

“All of us, without exception, have unexpected physical capabilities. We are able to do a lot more, than we can imagine. And we can use all this potential, unlocking it. The key is in our mind.“