Fulbright Update:
Centrul Media gathers Media Campers for reunion in Chisinau

I continue to be tremendously impressed by Moldova’s young people.

Alex Mocanu, addressing media camp reunion

I’ve had a chance to meet some great youngsters diligently working on community improvement projects through Interact (Rotary for high school students), as well as at least a hundred of high school age students engaged in media projects through the Centrul Media pentru Tineri (CMT-youth media center).

Some of the most dedicated CMT students gathered on a recent Saturday in Chisinau for a reunion of those who had attended Media Camp last summer. These 24 youngsters were from throughout Moldova, and represented the best of their communities.

I had a chance to address the energized and energizing group about peace media, and disinformation. It seemed like there was nothing the students didn’t know about disinformation, including its definition, how and why it is spread, and how to combat it. I was impressed. I gave them an exercise where they had to circle unverified information or disinformation, and underline phrases that damage peace. The students passed this test with flying colors, identifying each offending word and phrase, and offering precise analysis of why this constituted disinformation or impeded peace. The exercise is below—give it a try yourself.

I wrapped up my CMT activities this semester a few days later with a peace media presentation to students in Cimislia.

I can’t wait to work with CMT students, and my wonderful CMT colleagues, again in 2024.

Exercise:
This script is for a podcast segment that spreads disinformation and exacerbates conflict. Read this script. Circle anything that is possible disinformation (and things that need to be fact checked), and underline anything that contributes to conflict. You may circle and underline the same content if necessary.

Narration
Moldova is abandoning its Russian speaking population, admits a Moldovan government spokesman.

Media Campers gathered in Chisinau

Spokesman Petru Roibu, in a statement, implied that by joining the EU, Russian speakers will be denied opportunities to work in government jobs. He said at least a working knowledge of Moldovan will be necessary for future government work.

Academic studies show that Moldovan speakers already outnumber Russian speakers in government jobs by a 4 to 1 ratio.

“This problem is going to get much worse in the EU,” stated Alexandra Mutu in her office in Comrat.

Also, local Russian speaking leaders are worried that under the EU, central government funds will stop flowing to Gagauzia and other Russian speaking regions. “The government already spends more on Chisinau than Comrat,” Alexandra Mutu noted.

It is no wonder all Russian speakers oppose the move to the EU, given the oppression that will follow Moldova’s joining this U.S.-led group.