(Sir Europe – Brussels) - “In the digital era, the goal of media skills is to make the citizens more aware and freer” and, because of this, it must be taught in the schools and learnt all through one’s life”. EU Education Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou spoke in Nicosia (Cyprus), today, at the assembly of the European Newspaper Publishers’ Assembly, that brings together 5,200 local, regional and national newspapers, producing about 150 million copies in 26 countries. The Cypriot Commissioner’s speech focussed on two fronts: one to emphasise the important role played by mass media in this day and age, not least to strengthen the citizens’ participation in social life and democracy. Newspapers, magazines, websites do then serve European democracy. The second subject she addressed is the education to mass media, that she called “media skills”. In this respect, Vassiliou insisted on the role played by schools. In addition, Vassiliou gave an update on the work of the expert committee set up by the EU Executive for a mass media education project, that should deliver a final report sometime next year.

25/05/2012 -