The aim is to combine technical training on the use of digital devices with the development of critical thinking and the ability to assess the credibility of the information they provide.
The Government of Navarre, through the Directorate-General for Planning, Coordination, Innovation and Evaluation of Public Policies, part of the Department of Presidency and Equality, is leading the European project INMERS, International Media Literacy – Empowered Rural Seniors. This initiative, funded by the European Commission’s Creative Europe programme, seeks to improve media literacy among people over the age of 65 living in rural areas. The project places particular emphasis on territories where several languages coexist, with the aim of strengthening the autonomy, critical thinking and active participation of older people in the digital society.
With a strong international focus, the Government of Navarre forms part of this consortium alongside leading organisations from the Chartered Community of Navarre, Finland and Romania: NASERTIC, the University of Navarra, the University of Lapland, the Romanian organisation Funky Citizens and the Navarre Institute for Constructive Journalism.
The Ukrainian Media and Communication Institute and the National Library of Estonia will also join the working team as associated entities, contributing their expertise in media literacy and the fight against disinformation.
The First Vice-President and Regional Minister for Presidency and Equality, Javier Remírez, stated that “this project positions Navarre as a European benchmark in the promotion of critical and informed citizenship, addressing the digital divide and disinformation from a social, territorial and equality-based perspective, with special attention to older people living in rural areas”.
INMERS will be developed over 24 months in Navarre, Lapland in Finland and Transylvania in Romania. These territories share structural challenges such as population ageing, territorial dispersion and difficulties in accessing digital and information resources in rural areas, together with the coexistence of different languages. In the case of Navarre, the project will include Basque as a working language, alongside Sámi in Lapland and Hungarian in Transylvania.
The project focuses on media literacy as a key tool to strengthen personal autonomy, critical thinking and the participation of older people in the digital society.
The initiative has a total budget of 499,835.26 euros, of which 349,388.86 euros will be funded by the European Commission through the Creative Europe programme, representing a co-financing rate of 70%. The remaining budget will be provided by the consortium’s partner entities.
Diagnosis, training and co-creation
This alliance between public administrations, universities and civil society includes, in its first phase, the development of specific diagnoses on the media literacy needs of older people in each of the participating territories, as well as a comparative analysis at European level. Based on these studies, in-person training workshops will be designed and adapted to the sociolinguistic and cultural characteristics of each region, in order to combat the digital divide and disinformation, two major challenges facing today’s society.
One of the main outcomes of the project will be the creation of a European Media Literacy Guide, developed through a co-creation process involving older people, trainers and local stakeholders. This guide will be translated into different languages, including the languages of the participating territories, with the aim of ensuring its accessibility and replicability in other European regions.
The project also includes the training of trainers, in order to ensure the continuity of the actions beyond the duration of the project and to facilitate their future implementation in other rural contexts.
Navarre, a benchmark in social and democratic innovation
Through INMERS, the Government of Navarre reinforces its commitment to social innovation, equality and territorial cohesion policies, aligned with the 2030 Agenda, the European strategy to combat disinformation and the strengthening of democracy.
The project will also make it possible to share its conclusions and good practices in European forums such as the European Committee of the Regions, helping to place media literacy among older people at the centre of European public policies.