CFI launches “Balkan Voices” platform to strengthen media literacy in the Western Balkans
Related project
Balkan Voices 2CFI announces the launch of Balkan Voices, a modern, multilingual platform designed to help young people across the Western Balkans understand how information works, decode manipulation, and strengthen their critical thinking skills.
The platform extends TALMIL (Teaching and Learning MIL), an educational platform launched in 2021 under Balkan Voices project, and has now evolved into a fully upgraded, interactive learning space tailored to the needs of young people, educators, and aspiring journalists. This upgraded version now offers new tools and content for young journalists and educators, with formats adapted to the digital habits of today’s youth.
Why Balkan Voices?
For young people in the Western Balkans, staying informed is increasingly challenging. Fake news travels fast across social media, shaping opinions, amplifying divisions, and influencing public debate in a region marked by complex political and historical dynamics.
Balkan Voices responds to this challenge by offering practical, accessible, and engaging resources to help users understand how information is produced, how disinformation spreads, and what tools are needed to verify sources and navigate the digital world responsibly.
A modern platform aligned with young people’s digital habits
For Marie Nardoux, Project Manager of Balkan Voices 2, the new platform marks an important step forward:
At CFI, we wanted to create a dedicated space for young people in the Western Balkans to understand how manipulation works and to navigate an information environment that is changing fast. Having a modern and dynamic platform is essential to align it with their digital habits and to offer formats that genuinely feel intuitive, engaging and relevant. By investing in smart media-literacy tools, we aim to support more informed and resilient communities across the region.
MIL is a safeguard for our democracies
Miriam Angoni, Regional Coordinator of Balkan Voices 2, underlines the democratic importance of the platform:
In a time when misinformation spreads faster than truth, media and information literacy is not just a skill, it’s a safeguard for our democracies. We invite teachers, youth workers, activists and young people across the Western Balkans to explore the platform’s innovative learning materials on media literacy, fake news, and disinformation. These resources strengthen critical thinking, build resilience against manipulation, and encourage active, informed participation in society.
What you will find on Balkan Voices :
- A space for young people
Articles, interactive games, and tools that explain how information is produced, how disinformation spreads, and how to develop fact-checking reflexes in a simple, intuitive way.
- A space for teachers
Ready-to-use teaching materials that help integrate media literacy into the classroom—supporting teachers in raising awareness and developing young people’s critical thinking skills.
- A space for young journalists
Video resources offering deeper insights into journalism, verification, and the production of reliable, ethical information.
Voices from the region
Balkan Voices provides content to help young people understand not only fake news, but also the intentions, biases and impacts behind information. In an environment where information flows constantly, understanding manipulation mechanisms and learning to question sources is essential.
From Montenegro, Vanja Rakočević, MIL Trainer, highlights the platform’s relevance in the age of AI:
When information spreads faster than reflection and AI blurs the line between real and created, this platform offers a safe and meaningful learning space for both students and teachers. It strengthens critical thinking and responsible media engagement, while supporting active citizenship.
From Serbia, Tijana Femić, MIL trainer (Novi Sad School of Journalism), emphasizes its regional value:
Balkan Voices is an essential resource connecting young people and educators across the Balkans. The materials not only raise important questions but also offer concrete guidance for navigating today’s media landscape. Strengthening critical thinking is crucial for the region to respond responsibly to manipulative practices that have shaped our societies.
From North Macedonia, Dragan Atasanov, MIL trainer and youth policies expert, stresses the growing need for MIL tools:
As media and digital literacy become essential in a world full of (dis)information, it is more important than ever to equip young people with the competences needed to navigate this new reality. This platform does exactly that—offering tools for young people to practise critical thinking and resources for educators to be more effective in their work.
A CFI initiative for a more informed region:
Balkan Voices is part of BBalkan Voices 2, a CFI project that strengthens media literacy, cross-border collaboration, and public-interest journalism across the Western Balkans.
Explore the platform.
