Romania took hold of my heart in 2015 and since then has consumed my mind and soul. As with any genuine commitment, my relationship with this beautiful, complex country has grown and deepened over time as I have learned of its many tragedies, as well as its many triumphs. I have surrendered myself to Romania. [...] As I continue my Romanian journey, I marvel over the resiliency and fortitude of the people. I am fortunate to have developed close relationships, familial in many ways, with many Romanians. And I am eternally grateful to have been granted a Fulbright and honored to become part of this amazing community.
Fulbright ETA Seminar on Media Literacy: Empowering Educators for the Digital Age
From October 25 to October 28, the Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission in partnership with the Journalism and Digital Media Department at Babeș-Bolyai University organized the Fulbright ETA Seminar on Media Literacy, bringing together 55 U.S. Fulbright English Teaching Assistants from 14 European and Eurasian countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, and Türkiye. The seminar took place in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, during the Global Media and Information Literacy Week, as part of the International Conference and Training on Digital and Media Education.
The participants were welcomed by H.E. Kathleen Kavalec, Ambassador of the United States of America to Romania; Prof. Călin Rus, Vice-Rector, Babeș-Bolyai University; Prof. Mircea Dumitru, Executive Director, Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission; Prof. Călin Hințea, Dean, Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences; Assoc. Prof. Cristina Nistor, Journalism and Digital Media Department.
The seminar featured prominent educators and experts in media education, including keynote speakers Dr. Renee Hobbs, Professor at the Harrington School of Communication and Media, University of Rhode Island, Director of the Media Education Lab; Dr. Yonty Friesem, Co-Director of the Media Education Lab, Associate Professor of Communication at Columbia College Chicago; and Dr. Hawley Johnson, Associate Director at Global Freedom of Expression, Columbia University New York. They delivered enlightening talks on media education in the era of algorithmic personalization, teaching truth in the digital age, and civic empowerment.
The event also included a panel discussion on “Enhancing Democracy through Media Literacy” with the participation of distinguished speakers from the field of education and media, including H.E. Ligia Deca, Minister of Education; Despina Andrei, Communication and Fundraising Manager, UNICEF; Ioana Avădani, President of the Center for Independent Journalism; Eugen Cojocariu, Director of Radio Romania International and Vice President of EURANET (European Radio Network); Valentin-Alexandru Jucan, Vice President of the National Audiovisual Council of Romania; Assoc. Prof. Radu Meza, Chair of the Journalism and Digital Media Department, FSPAC, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca; and Dragoș Stanca, President of the Romanian Bureau for Transmedia Audit, Initiator of the Ethical Media Alliance.
During the seminar, Fulbright ETAs participated in two parallel interactive workshops that provided them with valuable tools and insights for teaching media literacy skills. Dr. Renee Hobbs led the design studio workshop, which focused on “Imagining the Future of Media Literacy at the Intersection of Quality and Context,” while Dr. Yonty Friesem coordinated the workshop titled “Beyond Accessibility: Deepening the Inclusive Practices of Media Literacy.”
In the afternoon sessions, attendees discussed critical thinking, media education initiatives, and quality journalism in the digital era, with contributions from Romanian and U.S. academics and media professionals. For the complete program details, please click here.
Beyond the sessions and workshops, the seminar provided an excellent platform for Fulbright ETAs to connect with their peers teaching in other countries and learn from each other.
Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to all speakers and participants for their contributions to the event. Special thanks to our partners from the Journalism and Digital Media Department at Babeș-Bolyai University, Assoc. Prof. Cristina Nistor and PhD Lecturer Rareș Beuran.
More photos are available here.