While the traditional literacy rate in Fiji is high at about 78 per cent, Fiji Media Watch research says there is still need for media literacy.
Media literacy is the need to develop an informed and critical understanding of the nature of mass media, techniques used by various mediums and the impact of these techniques.
In recognising this need, the Fiji Media Watch yesterday signed a Memorandum Of Understanding with the Department of Youth on Monday, whereby youth media monitors will be trained by Fiji Media Watch officers.
Director of Youth Ms Makereta Sauturaga said the UN declared August 2010 to August 2011 as the International Year of Youth with the theme dialogue and mutual understanding.
“The theme as you may appreciate points to and encourages the effective participation of young people in decision making,”Ms Sauturaga said.
“Fiji Media Watch will train youths appointed by the National Youth Council, to undertake media monitoring exercise, as part of the international year of the youth, to ascertain the volume and quality of media coverage given to youth and related development issues.
“The exercise will give 296,000 plus youths in Fiji a voice in our country.
“Findings will be used as a platform to advocate effective media coverage and related development issues, suggest areas of training and capacity building for media and youth workers.”
Fiji Media Watch executive director Ms Agatha Ferei acknowledged the support of the Department of Youth and Sports and the opportunity to share information and skills of their staff in training monitors.
“Apart from the common knowledge that people have the right to information, it is also important to know that people have the right to know how to interpret information,” she said.