2. TEAM PREPARATION:
Recruitment of Media and Policy Experts (MPEs), Youth Educators, and Volunteers:
Beside you and your partners, as coordinators and logistics behind the implementation of the YCH, there are several types of participants at the YCH events.
Media and Policy Experts (MPEs)
Those are the experts and activists in the field of media, fake news, communication, as well as in the field of the topics which you choose to work on at the YCH (E.g., in case you selected to deal with climate change, than some experts in the field of climate change, environmental protection, green, etc. are the one which also should be part of the MPEs group). The number of the MPEs depends on the number of fake news you are working on. Our suggestion is that each MPE is in charge for one fake news. MPEs are in charge of working with participants at the Meet Ups (presented below). They should be prepared to engage into living library setting and facilitating discussion and education of learning process of participants on their media literacy.
Youth Educators
Those are the trainers, youth workers, NFE educators and all those who are skilled in facilitating creative workshops with participants. As our intention is to boost civic activism among them, those with previous experience in activism should be welcomed to participate. Their work relates primarily to the implementation of the Creative workshops (presented below) – the process where they are facilitating work of participants on developing creative outputs addressing fake news and inspiring their social activism.
Volunteers
All those who will be there to help to technically and logistically organize your YCH event. In case of international events, this help should go further beyond the very event and include support in hosting the international guests.
Participants
Young people and children that are interested and motivated to participate in the YCH activities and learn about fake news, enhance their media literacy and become agents of social change in their local communities.
Use your personal and organizational contacts to reach out to the best candidates and volunteers. Post public calls for these roles, specifying requirements and responsibilities. Once selected, you should prepare them to take active role in the YCH event. Here are our suggestions on what you should do here.
Training programs:
These training programs are designed to ensure that everyone involved in the hackathon, from MPEs to Youth Educators and volunteers, is well-prepared to contribute effectively. The goal is to create a well-informed team that can facilitate productive discussions, manage the event seamlessly, and engage participants in meaningful ways to combat fake news and enhance media literacy.
Suggestion is to organize online training and mentorship for MPEs to prepare them for their roles in discussing and deconstructing fake news, conduct capacity-building training for Youth Educators to facilitate workshops effectively, and a one-day training for Volunteers to familiarize them with their roles and responsibilities during the event.
Training and Mentorship for MPEs
aims to equip MPEs with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively discuss and deconstruct fake news during hackathon events. It can cover topics such as: Understanding fake news, techniques for critically analyzing information, identifying biases, and discerning credible sources, strategies for discussing sensitive topics and debunking misinformation in a way that is accessible and convincing to a diverse audience, simulated discussions to practice real-life scenarios where MPEs might encounter fake news.
Capacity-Building for Youth Educators
has the aim to prepare Youth Educators to facilitate workshops and educational sessions that enhance media literacy among young participants. It should cover areas such as: insights into youth engagement, teaching methodologies, and creating interactive learning environments, knowledge of media literacy, including understanding media landscapes, tools for checking facts, and ways to encourage skeptical viewing of media. It is also important to cover skills for managing group dynamics, fostering inclusive discussions, and handling disruptive behaviors.
Volunteer Training
aims to ensure that volunteers understand their roles and responsibilities during the event to support operations smoothly and effectively. They need to have a clear overview of the event’s purpose, schedule, and expected outcomes. They would have to understand different volunteer roles, such as event logistics, participant registration, technical support, and emergency response and be able to handle queries and providing information to participants.
Role assignments:
Clearly define the roles and responsibilities for all team members, ensuring they understand their tasks and the overall goals of the hackathon. There should be a clear line of communication, including designated contacts for different issues that might arise during the event.
