Messages through Media - Slovakia

We are now the generation of ‘digital natives’.....

& I have just checked in online to attend International Media Training in Slovakia!!

We, as young people, have embraced media with all our hearts – Facebook, Youtube, tagging, photo uploading, Twitter, video games, blogging.....

& we are now showing our parents how to truly multitask – if we are not on our computer Skyping whilst watching TV in the evening; we are writing emails whilst simultaneously running for the bus on our smart phone!!

The easy & instant access & sharing of media through the wonderful World Wide Web has completely changed our world forever in all it’s corners!

However this freedom has it’s downfalls, as you may have seen on the disturbing frontpage tabloid headlines on Wednesday:-

“Children are being sexually exploited in every “town, village and hamlet” in England with social networking sites and easy access to pornography fuelling the problem” – Daily Telegraph

This is something actually close to my heart & a situation I spend much time & effort trying to improve for young people within Brighton area with Sussex Central YMCA’s WiSE project. With my interest in medias use in educating & helping vulnerable young people; I am very excited to have been selected to participate in the media training.

Earlier this year, created & produced an animation ‘Spud’s WiSE Words’, to educate & raise awareness of preventing & disrupting the cycle of sexual exploitation of young people. It will be shown in schools & other public places, & is uploaded on Youtube. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVa6sX_to04v )

When I created the film, I did so from the heart, & am very much looking forward to learning the theory & methodology of production behind the practise I used.

I’m hoping to come home from Slovakia, with the knowledge & inspiration of using media to it’s greatest features & most positive advantages to challenge & solves it’s current downfalls.  Also apply  it to future & more ambitious projects to successfully engage young people in ‘difficult’ subjects that affect our lives & our society.

If a digital camera, video uploading & Facebook can bring freedom for the countries in the Arab Springs....
Imagine the bigger picture, the potential 23 European participants could have on our world with the knowledge of how to properly convey messages through media!!!