Follow Up Romania

Romanian Team Follow-Up Activities – MEDIAMIND Project

Following their meaningful participation in the Erasmus+ MEDIAMIND training in Cyprus (March 22–30, 2025), the Romanian team took proactive steps to share their knowledge and experiences with local youth. Through a series of local workshops and reflective sessions, they addressed the growing challenges of fake news and media manipulation, while promoting critical thinking and digital literacy. Using interactive methods such as debates, storytelling, and creative exercises, they connected with young people who were often encountering Erasmus+ and media literacy for the first time. The Romanian team's dissemination efforts not only extended the impact of the project but also ignited new interest in responsible media engagement and youth empowerment at the local level.

Dissemination Workshop 1

On 8th of May, we conducted the first dissemination workshop for the Media Mind Erasmus project at a high school. The attendees were classmates of Angela, a member of the Romanian team, and consisted of twenty five high school students between the ages of seventeen and eighteen. Firstly, we presented our activities during the mobility and what we learned. Then, we provided materials for the "Create Your Own Fake News" workshop, one of our favourites. They enjoyed working together and coming up with off-the-wall ideas. We could see that they were extremely proud of their work, just as we were in Pissouri.

Secondly, we gathered ideas about the process of making fake news. They understood that an attractive title and keywords often suffice to stand out and draw attention. Fake news often builds a story around a fact, appearing true. They learned to be critical of what they see on the internet and other media, to consult trustworthy sources of information, and to look out for key features of fake news. Additionally, they should use online tools for real-time fact-checking to better protect themselves against harmful information. Lastly, we discussed different types of Erasmus+ projects and their purposes. We showed them various options for applying and preparing for mobility. We encouraged them to take every opportunity they find, as such projects offer many advantages.

Dissemination Workshop 2

Local Activity Report
Location: ZborHub, Iași, Romania
Date: 11 May 2025
Number of Participants: 25 young people
Age Group: 16–24 years old
Main Topics: Media literacy, Fake news

Overview:
A local non-formal learning activity was held at ZborHub Youth Center in Iași, bringing together 25 young participants interested in exploring the impact of fake news and the role of social media in shaping public opinion. The session was part of a wider educational initiative aimed at enhancing young people's critical thinking and digital citizenship.

Workshop Structure:
The core of the workshop was a structured debate, where participants were split into two teams and asked to reflect on a controversial topic related to media manipulation during elections. The debate topic was inspired by a real context: in the first round of the recent presidential elections, one candidate allegedly used TikTok algorithms and bots to manipulate public perception and gain support.

Team 1 was assigned to defend the need for strong regulations on social media platforms, arguing that unchecked digital environments allow disinformation and manipulation to thrive.
Team 2 was tasked to protect freedom of speech, opposing censorship and defending the users' right to express themselves freely, even in politically sensitive contexts.

Each team received time to prepare arguments, supported by real-life examples, digital trends, and insights from recent electoral events. A facilitator moderated the debate, ensuring a respectful, fact-based dialogue.

Outcomes and Impact:
The activity succeeded in increasing awareness of how fake news can influence democratic processes and how social media can be both a tool and a threat. Participants improved their ability to identify biased content, understand the implications of platform algorithms, and articulate well-structured arguments under pressure. Many reported that the debate format helped them better understand opposing viewpoints and the complexity behind regulating digital spaces.

Follow-up:
The workshop concluded with a short reflection session, where participants shared key takeaways and committed to further researching how they can promote media literacy in their own schools or youth groups. Some expressed interest in organizing similar debates at a local level.

Online dissemination

Evaluation from participants

Andreea

Hello! My name is Croitoru Andreea and during 22-30 march i took part in the erasmus training project Media Mind. We were 36 of participants that learnt about fake news and media literacy. We learnt about how important is to be aware of what is happening on the mass media nowadays but not only that, but what impact had during decades in people s life. During this project, we participate in various workshops like debating,personal growth activities as journaling, drawing with the role of expressing the impact that media has in our lifes. Of course, we did a lot of activities in teams. for example: bad product, good marketing, that made us understood how important is the marketing for a product in selling. In another day, we had another workshop about fake news, we had to create some sorts of fake news and present it to participants.

In conclusion, from my personal experience, I learnt so much about media literacy, how social media affects our life and our way of thinking. Besides this, i learnt how to recognize misinformation, how to inform myself and how to explain others those things. Because this project isn't only about being aware of what is happening in my own life but also what is happening in everyones life and how to guide/ help them in their media literacy journey too.

So, thank you for giving me this experience. Thanks to coordinators that organized everything, did an amazing job and they were so welcoming, helpful and wise. They where very professional and paid attention to every detail. They made sure that everything is good, we are involved during the project and really understand the activities and tasks.

Angela

Hello! My name is Angela, and I was most impressed by the warm welcome we received. It was reassuring to know that the coordinators were pleased to have us and readily available to assist. I especially appreciated the balance they struck between professionalism and friendliness. They maintained order effortlessly while always greeting us with a smile. Everything was perfect from the beginning, and I wouldn't change a thing.

Alexandru

Hey! My name is Antoniu Alexandru, and between March 22-30, I visited the Media Mind Erasmus training project. I dealt with fake news and media literacy with 35 other participants. During the project, it became clear how important it is to stay abreast of the changing face of media, and how media has changed society over the decades. We participated in various interactive workshops such as debating and personal developing activities including journaling and expressive drawing, all designed to help appreciate the profound impact media exerts on our lives. At the project, teamwork was of great importance. We discovered just how powerful marketing is in shaping public perception and stimulating sales through the activity Bad Product, Good Marketing. On another day, we had a workshop on fake news in which we created and presented examples of misinformation. This greatly assisted us in realizing how easily misinformation can spread and how to spot it.

From my side, I got a perspective into the world of media literacy and the deeper influence social media has on our thinking and daily living. I have learned to critically evaluate information, spot misinformation, and help other people to do the same. The project is not only about raising my own awareness but also about helping others in their own media literacy journey. Thank you for this beautiful experience

Andrei

Hi! My name is Bunu Andrei, and between March 22–30, I had the opportunity to take part in the Erasmus training project "Media Mind" with 35 other participants, I explored topics about fake news and media literacy. During the project, we got into how important it is to stay informed in today's media, while also reflecting on the ways media has shaped society over time.

We participated in a series of workshops and activities like:

—structured debates to personal development like expressive drawing to make us understand media's influence.

Collaboration and teamwork were essential elements in the program.

In the "Bad Product, Good Marketing" workshop we discovered how strategic marketing can change public opinion and even boost the performance of an otherwise bad product.

Another session focused on fake news, where we had to create and present our own examples of misinformation, a practical exercise that improved our critical thinking. Another activity involved drawing a personal timeline of our life, with key timestamps related to our first encounters with media. From getting our first phone or social media account to moments when media impacted us. It was a reflective exercise that helped us see just how much media is shaping our lives.

Overall, the Media Mind project was a good learning experience that not only improved my media literacy but also left me with long-lasting knowledge of how we interact with the information that surrounds us every day.