Anda Puce

2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Young Media MastersLatvia

Anda Puce is a project manager and editor at the regional publishing house, Kurzemes Vārds, in Liepaja, Latvia. Since 2003, Anda has worked on publishing projects and is experienced in managing diverse project and online media. She has also been the editor of the magazine, Liepājas Vēstules. Anda has gained significant experience in the last five years working in collaboration with colleagues from other regional media houses in Latvia. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Young Media Masters

The main aim of the project was to improve media literacy for the youths in Liepaja, Latvia and the surrounding regions. Educational lectures were prepared at the Kurzemes Vārds editorial house. The lectures introduced young people to disinformation recognition capabilities, media responsibility and critical thinking on social networks. The project reached out to six schools in Liepaja and six schools in the surrounding regions. Students were also trained in creating media content, taking responsibility for what they create and understanding how others can manipulate these materials on social networks. The war in Ukraine was one of the topics used to expose false news and to analyze misinformation and propaganda. This gave young people a better understanding as they explored the situation in detail themselves. Therefore, media literacy classes helped to promote understanding of the objective information and increased tolerance towards Ukrainian refugees.

185 secondary students in Liepaja learned about media literacy issues such as disinformation, hate speech and propaganda. The students used their newfound knowledge to create their own content for social networks. Teachers and counsellors also found the media literacy exercises important and useful.

"Pupils could be further involved in carrying out practical tasks, discussing cases of real false news more and working practically with the printed press as well." -Project Participant

IVLP Exchange Experience

Anda was a participant in the IVLP Project 21st Century ChangeMakers: Supporting Independent Regional Media: Ethical and Accountable Reporting and Sustainable Business Models, organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center.

Anda's exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "I got to tour the U.S. The experience I got was very useful and it inspired me to work with the younger generations."

U.S. Communities Visited Virtually

Washington, DC; Tampa, FL; Chicago, IL; Santa Fe, NM

Country: Latvia

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