Communication with policymakers and stakeholders

We suggest that media should be more integrated into the political processes on the local level. Make sure that there are opportunities for youth to communicate to policymakers and

stakeholders through audiovisual media. This could be done by researching and promoting ways to use media for communication and informing youth in approachable, youth friendly

way, with emphasis on inclusion of youth with fewer social economical and physical opportunities.

Comprehensive research on the European level in order to establish the quality criteria and give visibility and recognition to

the needs of youth

More research should be done in the media educations and training. The projects should be evaluated and best practices shared.

Ensure that young people take part in the evaluation.The quality criteria should focus on the media education projects (methods, processes) but be

very flexible about the product in order to include and motivate youth to participate.Results of the research should be shared by creating a database of all the projects and results of

media education on the European level. All useful resources, media messages, tools, trainers, organizations should be contained within. Ensure that the database is visible and approachable by all young people, most notably youth

with fewer opportunities. Youth should be educated and enabled to use this information and give feedback and evaluate the projects.

Opportunities for youth to participate

Include media in the process for applying for grants. Consider using audio/visual reports, because they could include youth with less language and academic skills, and learning

disabilities, and is more attractive and visible for other young people, thus inviting them to actively participate themselves.

A group of experts on non formal media education which can support (coach) young people to get the opportunity for creating their own projects should be formed on the European level.

Recommendations for Policy Makers

Dissemination of media education through formal school system

Good practices and methods from the non formal media education should be further developed and disseminated also through the formal school system.

Put media in the formal education curriculum. The methodology for media education should be in a non-formal way of learning.

Use media in the educational system to support youth with fewer opportunities to take part in the regular class setting by providing different educational methodological approaches

including audio-visual support methods.

Educate the educators in using media in their regular activities.Provide free internet for all young people which comes with teaching the youngsters and

educators how to use the internet critically analytically and responsibly.

Insure that time is allocated in the formal curricula for young people to take part in non-formal education opportunities. For example everyone gets 14 days per year where they can freely take part in non-formal learning. This will create opportunities for youngsters who are already

working or studying to have the time to go and broaden their horizon, knowledge.

Equal access to the material resources

Promote education and recognition of importance of using free software in media projects, education and within youth organizations.

Ensure that you can ask for equipment, editing software and other media software in your application forms or promote establishment of renting system for youth in their communities.

Moreover, ensure that there is insurance system for the technical materials.

Provide and promote possibilities that used equipment gets redistributed especially to young people with fewer opportunities.

Take away legal restrictions for re-use of equipment and material in educational purposes.