Training on Media Messaging for Racial Justice Advocates

Date: 10-12 October (arrival on 10 October, departure late afternoon 12 October)

Location: Brussels, Belgium

In today's rapidly evolving media landscape, the power of communication cannot be overstated. For anti-racist organisations and activists, mastering media literacy is crucial to effectively advocate for racial equality and challenge harmful narratives. As racialised communities often face negative portrayals in mainstream media, it becomes imperative to equip these groups with the skills necessary to reclaim their narratives and engage in meaningful discourse.

This intensive 1.5-day training program on media messaging is designed to provide a solid base for participants to explore knowledge and tools needed to navigate both traditional and new media platforms. By fostering a proactive approach to media engagement, we seek to create a generation of activists who are not only informed but also capable of shaping the narratives that influence public perception and policy.

Through a combination of theoretical foundations and practical skills development, this programme will focus on critical media literacy, enabling participants to craft compelling stories that resonate with diverse audiences. By understanding the media landscape and learning effective techniques for outreach, participants will be better positioned to combat the far-right's impact on racial equality and advocate for the rights of marginalised communities.

The training won't cover every detail of media literacy. Instead, it serves as a starting point, offering essential information to build a strong foundation for organisations involved in the anti-racist movement. We hope to convey to the participants essential media literacy skills, enabling them to effectively communicate their narratives, combat negative portrayals, and engage in meaningful dialogue on racial equality.

Throughout the training we want to:

• Develop participants' knowledge of the current media landscape, including traditional and new media platforms and provide space to analyse the role of the media in the mainstreaming of far-right narratives and the upholding of institutional whiteness.
• Explore the role of media in shaping public perceptions of racialised communities and social justice issues.
• Teach participants how to create compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences and provide tools for effective storytelling, ensuring that the voices of racialised communities are authentically represented.
• Encourage participants to contribute to local, national, and European debates through written media.
• Enable participants to practice creating media content that aligns with their anti-racist goals.

At the end of the training the participants should:

• Have a good understanding of both traditional and new media, including their roles in shaping public discourse on racial issues.
• Be equipped with strategies to reach out to media outlets and build relationships that amplify their messages.
• Possess the skills to create and articulate powerful narratives that authentically represent their communities and address social justice issues.
• Have hands-on experience in creating media content, including articles, social media posts, and multimedia storytelling.
• Be empowered to integrate critical media literacy principles into their advocacy work, fostering a decolonial, intersectional and anti-racist approach.
• Be prepared to empower and uplift their communities, particularly focusing on marginalised groups, by sharing their acquired media skills and knowledge.

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Registration

Share with your network and register till 5 September 2024. Please get in touch with pia@enar-eu.org with any questions. 

There is no participation fee for the event. Please however make sure that the membership fee for your organisation is paid in order to participate in the training.

Selections and approvals will be finalized after the deadline. We will be selecting participants based on their demonstrated motivation, and we encourage all applicants to take the time to carefully reflect on their expectations and reasons for wanting to attend as they will play an important role in the selection process. Please refrain from purchasing tickets until you receive confirmation.

We especially encourage young anti-racist activists to join us.

Read more about the logistical aspects in the open call.

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Code of Conduct

By registering to this meeting, you confirm your agreement with ENAR's code of conduct at ENAR meetings and events.

You can download the full document HERE​.