YEREVAN, Armenia — This year, the Media Initiatives Center, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia, declared November 4-10 as Media Literacy Week in Armenia. The theme, “Media Literacy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” brought together local and international media experts, journalists, marketing professionals, and educators and featured a wide range of events held throughout Armenia, including interactive discussions, workshops, and presentations, aimed at promoting media literacy.
As part of Media Literacy Week, on November 7, the American University of Armenia (AUA) Media Lab hosted an interactive discussion titled “5×5+1: Media Literacy or AI Opportunities and Media,” featuring Arminas Varanauskas, international education expert; Samvel Martirosyan, media expert; Hayk Hovhannisyan, journalist; Konstantin Amirakyan, representative of Internews in Armenia; Nare Petrosyan, journalist, and Dr. Shawn McIntosh, chair of AUA’s M.A. in Multiplatform Journalism program.
“It was a true pleasure to collaborate with our partners from the Media Initiatives Center. This marked the first time AUA participated in the week-long activities, and we were pleased to provide our students and the journalistic community with the opportunity and platform to engage in this wonderful event. By working together with our partners, we aim to reach our shared goal of promoting media literacy and raising awareness of American best practices in journalism,” remarked Narek Ghazaryan, AUA’s chief communications officer.
During the interactive session, each speaker presented hot topics related to media literacy and artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking of AI tools, Hovhannisyan stated, “AI tools facilitate, speed up, and increase the quality of work, but they do not replace us.” He emphasized the importance of understanding the role of AI as a supportive tool rather than a substitute for human input. In his turn, Amirakyan highlighted AI’s impressive ability to conduct complex analysis and make more accurate, data-driven decisions. Media expert Martirosyan contributed to the discussion by addressing not only the benefits, but also the potential downsides of AI. He noted that AI has fundamentally altered the landscape of information warfare, highlighting that while it offers advantages, it also brings challenges that can impact the way misinformation spreads and influences public opinion. Dr. McIntosh shifted focus to media production, exploring media literacy through this lens and emphasizing the importance of equipping individuals, particularly students and young professionals, with the skills to critically engage with and create media content.
The presentations were followed by a Q&A session and an engaging discussion, during which participants had the opportunity to delve deeper into the complexities of media literacy in the context of AI. The discussion highlighted diverse perspectives, with speakers providing insights based on their expertise in media education, journalism, and the intersection of technology and communication.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.
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