Media Education Projects in Italy in the Context of the Formation of Critical Thinking and Digital Communication

A. Bessarab, G. Volynets

Abstract


The purpose of the study is to analyze media education projects in Italy in the context of the formation of critical thinking and digital communication.

Research methodology is based on interdisciplinary, systemic, and communication approaches. The study applies content analysis of official media education platforms, case study analysis of the projects IDMO, CREMIT, fAIr MEDIA, MEDMAS, and Rai Scuola, comparative analysis of online education formats and target audiences, as well as elements of discourse analysis related to the concepts of media literacy, digital literacy, AI literacy, and digital citizenship. The empirical basis includes academic publications, analytical reports, educational platforms, and official resources of Italian and European projects from 2020 to 2026.

Results. The results of the study demonstrate that the contemporary Italian model of media education is based on interdisciplinarity, the integration of digital citizenship, the development of critical thinking, and the active implementation of online learning formats. The research identifies MOOCs, e-learning platforms, game-based learning, AI literacy integration, and fact-checking practices as the main trends in Italian media education. It has been established that media education projects in Italy are implemented through cooperation between universities, media organizations, state institutions, and European programs. The study analyzes the structure, funding, trainers, target audiences, educational formats, course topics, certification systems, and online accessibility of the projects IDMO, CREMIT, fAIr MEDIA, MEDMAS, and Rai Scuola. The research also reveals the growing importance of disinformation counteraction, algorithmic literacy, and critical analysis of AI-generated content within Italian media education initiatives.

Scientific novelty of the study lies in the systematization of Italian online media education projects of 2020–2026, the identification of the specific features of AI literacy integration into contemporary media education, and the comprehensive analysis of cooperation between universities, state institutions, and media organizations in the formation of digital citizenship.

Practical significance of the research consists in the possibility of applying its findings to further studies of European media education models, the development of educational programs in digital literacy, AI literacy, and fact-checking, as well as the improvement of online courses and training programs in digital communication.

Key words: media education, media literacy, digital literacy, AI literacy, digital communication, critical thinking, digital citizenship, fake news, online education, Italy.


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.32840/cpu2219-8741/2026.1(65).18

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