MiLLi* hosts multimedia workshop

Elizabeth Joseph



KEETMANSHOOP

The Media Information Literacy Learning Initiative (MiLLi*) recently ran a three-day workshop in Keetmanshoop that aimed to educate young media professionals on the importance of media literacy.

The workshop, which kicked off on 9 September, came to a close on 11 September.

Eight participants completed the in-depth multimedia course at the Keetmanshoop Multi-Purpose Youth Resource Centre.

Upon completion, they each received a certificate of attendance on top of the comprehensive information they acquired.

Main objective

MiLLi* was initiated by the Media, Arts, Technology Studies of the College of the Arts, in collaboration with Deutsche Welle Akademie.

Maria Undjondjo, one of the MiLLi* facilitators, said the programme’s main objective is to fight the grave influence of social media and other forms of media among the Namibian youth.

“The participants went through radio content production and information creation of radio content, the dispersing of such information as well as interpreting it,” Undjondjo said.

Impartation of skill

The workshop was aimed at equipping young people with the skills to become media literate within the medium of radio. “It is said that media literacy only comes about once the ability to access, analyse and create media content accompanied by the ability to reflect and act on the said content is realised. With this in mind, the workshop was set up to help empower citizens in interpreting information, making informed judgements and becoming producers of information,” she further mentioned.

The workshop mainly targeted the youth in Keetmanshoop because, according to MiLLi*, they are avid users of social media and other forms of media, however, have a lack of understanding regarding this content.

Expectations

“Upon completion, I hope to see a visible change in participants with regards to the way they see media content, make sense of it and create it. I hope to have enlightened them in the process of radio content production and radio journalism in relation to information production.

“I look forward to seeing a change in attitudes and beliefs when it comes to media content and also encourage them to be creators of impactful content,” Undjondjo further said.

The workshop was based on basic journalism and reporting skills that helped the participants sharpen their writing and reporting skills.

One of the participants, Operi Tjakuapi, said the workshop opened a great spectrum of understanding for him.

“I am honoured to have had an opportunity to be a part of this programme and I know that whatever I have learnt will now be able to share as well,” he said.