The Perception of COVID-19 communication in West Africa (non-Sahel): report

Since 2011, UNESCO has launched an international, regional and national intervention on Media and Information Literacy (MIL), recognizing the primary role of information and media in everyday lives. The intervention is meant to contribute to the development of media and information literacy skills and promote best practices to analyze information critically and to navigate through the overwhelming amount of news and information available.

Under this overarching framework and as part of UNESCO’s responses to the COVID-19 ‘infodemic’, UNESCO Abuja Office initiated a survey on Perception of COVID-19 Communication in West Africa (non-Sahel). The survey was developed to understand how people in some Western African countries obtain and use the Information on COVID-19 for informed decisions.

Source: The Perception of COVID-19 communication in West Africa (non-Sahel): report

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    Seoul Declaration on Media and Information Literacy for Everyone and by Everyone

    On the 10th anniversary of Global Media and Information Literacy Week, stakeholders from all over the world gave a resounding affirmation as to the urgency to strengthen people’s media and information literacy competencies.

    The outcomes of the deliberations in the Feature Conference and Youth Agenda Forum have been immortalized in the Seoul Declaration on Media and Information Literacy for Everyone and by Everyone: A Defence against Disinfodemics. This Seoul Declaration benefited from a consultation with close to one thousand registered participants.

    Source: Seoul Declaration on Media and Information Literacy for Everyone and by Everyone

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      Questions and Answers: Adolescents, Youth and COVID-19

      These questions and answers were developed by the World Health Organization, UNESCO, UNFPA and UNICEF.

      Questions include:

      • Can adolescents catch COVID-19?
      • Can adolescents spread COVID-19 to other people even if they have mild or no symptoms?
      • Since there are few known cases of adolescents getting seriously ill with COVID-19, should I go to a health facility if I develop symptoms of the disease?
      • I am on medication for a chronic health condition. Should I change anything?
      • I am bored staying home. Since I am very unlikely to get severely ill even if I was to get COVID-19, why is it important that I follow the guidelines to prevent transmission such as keeping physical distance from other people?
      • I am feeling really anxious about COVID-19 and its impact on my life. What should I do?

      Source: Questions and Answers: Adolescents, Youth and COVID-19

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        How to Protect Yourself in the Infodemic?

        Sharing unverified information during the COVID-19 pandemic can be dangerous, unhealthy, and make our life more confusing. UNESCO and the World Health Organization are calling out this Infodemic and calling on you to be on the frontline for truth. It’s easy. Watch the video for the simple actions we can all take on how to identify false information, verify trusted sources, and help ourselves and loved ones to stay safe.

        Source: How to Protect Yourself in the Infodemic?

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          Actions to Support Media, Enhance Access to Information, and Leverage Digital Technologies in the Fight Against the Pandemic

          UNESCO is the UN agency with a specific mandate to promote “free flow of ideas by word and image”. It welcomes the immense efforts of communication and information communities to tackle the current COVID-19 crisis, including:

          • sharing lifesaving information, debunking misinformation,
          • strengthening the implementation of the fundamental right to information,
          • leveraging the use of public interest media, ICTs and OER for e-learning, and connecting people online.

          UNESCO is closely monitoring the impact of this crisis on media freedom, safety of journalists, and the fundamental right to access information.

          In a context of unprecedented challenges for the media and digital technology sectors, UNESCO has created a “resource center” of selected responses to COVID-19.
          It includes a collection of examples of actions related to communication and information made available for the purpose of:

          • Sharing practices
          • Identifying priorities
          • Facilitating partnerships
          • Amplifying good practices
          • Providing advice and technical assistance to governments and relevant national stakeholders
          • Fostering North-South, South-South, and triangular cooperation

          This “clearing house” provides a non-exhaustive list of illustrative examples. It will continue to evolve with the COVID-19 pandemic and the quick development of responses.

          Source: Actions to Support Media, Enhance Access to Information, and Leverage Digital Technologies in the Fight Against the Pandemic

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