Media4EU Networking Event – Enhancing Media Education with EU Journalism Schools

From 15 to 17 December 2025, the Media4EU Networking Event will take place in Skopje, North Macedonia, bringing together journalism schools, media educators, and civil-society actors to strengthen collaboration in media literacy and innovation. The Media4EU Networking event is organised within the framework of the Media4EU project, financed by the European Union and the Central European Initiative (CEI).

This capacity-building and networking initiative aims to enhance media education by fostering exchanges between journalism students, trainers, universities, and community organisations from across Europe. The sessions will focus on bridging academic learning with real-life media practice, strengthening critical thinking, and improving young people’s ability to navigate and counter misinformation.

Over three days, participants will take part in interactive workshops, panel discussions, and peer-learning activities covering key themes such as:

• innovative approaches to journalism education;

• countering disinformation and strengthening fact-checking;

• digital communication skills for young professionals;

• cross-border cooperation between journalism schools and CSOs;

• the role of youth in safeguarding media freedom and democratic values.

Organised by ALDA with the contribution of Ivana Velkova and Katica Janeva, the event also serves as a platform for discussing regional challenges in the Western Balkans, where media pluralism, press freedom, and youth participation remain central priorities. The programme encourages stronger links between journalism institutions and civil society, supporting long-term cooperation to reinforce independent, ethical, and youth-centred media production.

As part of Media4EU’s mission, participants from different European countries will also discuss opportunities for joint training curricula, exchange programmes, and follow-up initiatives that promote high-quality journalism education aligned with EU values.

More details about the CEI’s support to media literacy can be found on the Central European Initiative website.

Skopje, North Macedonia

15–17 December 2025