Focus group held as part of the .MOV project with participants from the FROOOM! program

Shadow Casters are part of the Thematic Network for Media Literacy Development established within the ESF project “Media Education Matters: MOV,” led by GONG. One of the project goals is to strengthen organizations engaged in media literacy, aiming to introduce reforms in media literacy through synergistic actions and to enhance the visibility of non-formal educational program outcomes like our FROOOM!. In the long run, the project seeks to influence public educational policy, including changes in formal education programs/curricula.

To gather comprehensive insights under the .MOV project, several focus groups were organized with diverse target groups. The aim of these focus groups was to gather comprehensive information on the current state related to education (formal and non-formal) in media literacy.

On December 19, 2022, Shadow Casters held a focus group with their young FROOOM! participants at GONG’s premises, Mihanovićeva 14. The session was facilitated by Veno Mušinović, a longtime collaborator and member of Shadow Casters, an educator involved in all educational programs related to film and media literacy.

Six youths aged 14 to 16 discussed what media literacy means to them, the knowledge and skills needed to be media literate today, whether they are capable of producing media content (audio/video material) and how this affects their understanding and consumption of media content. They also explored how media content is addressed in school, how their participation in the FROOOM! program has helped develop their media literacy skills, and more.

The discussion was relaxed and informal, with engaged participation from the children. However, it was concluded that the focus group format may not be entirely suitable for children, as a more extended timeframe and relaxed atmosphere yield more fruitful insights.

One of the main conclusions was that the FROOOM! program serves as a collaborative environment where they explore intriguing content applicable in school and leisure time. They are cautious about creating content on social media. Some of them produce films in their free time, presenting them at school and even adapting school literature into stop-motion animation films.

The focus group session lasted approximately one hour, and a comprehensive report was compiled detailing the entire discussion and its conclusions.