Skills Lab: Media Literacy for Seniors

Since 2023, Skills Lab: Media has been an essential part of New East’s commitment to inclusive media literacy education, bringing long- and short-term programs to cities across Latgale and beyond. Tailored for individuals aged 55+, this initiative addresses one of the most vulnerable demographics in the digital age — seniors, particularly those in Russian-speaking regions of Latvia, who are at increased risk of exposure to disinformation.

Supported by the Baltic Centre for Media Excellence and Google, the program offers both 10-week intensive courses and short-term workshops, delivered in accessible formats and multiple languages — including Latvian, Latgalian, and Russian. This ensures wide accessibility, particularly in Daugavpils, Rēzekne, Krāslava, Līvāni, and Preiļi, where linguistic and cultural diversity is central to community life.

Through a hands-on, dialogue-driven learning model, participants are introduced to the foundations of critical thinking, fact-checking, and digital hygiene. They learn to question sources, verify photographs, identify manipulative narratives, and recognize the architecture of online propaganda. Sessions also introduce Google tools that help users navigate the information landscape more safely and effectively.

What makes Skills Lab distinct is not only its content, but the energy it cultivates. Instructors observe dynamic exchanges — some sessions turning into lively debates across generations, ideologies, and worldviews. Half of the participants are deeply active and engaged, the other half more hesitant but just as eager to learn and grow. This mix fosters empathy, critical dialogue, and community trust — values that are often missing in an environment fragmented by polarization and digital noise.

In a region where media influence is a key societal challenge, Skills Lab is more than an educational program. It is a platform for personal empowerment, community resilience, and democratic participation, designed to restore agency to those who often feel left out of the digital revolution.