Monaco Backs Youth Initiative Against Disinformation With Donation to Journalists Matter Campaign

Monaco has pledged financial support to the Council of Europe’s “Journalists Matter” campaign, reinforcing the principality’s commitment to combating disinformation and promoting critical thinking among young people.

The voluntary contribution, announced this week by Monaco’s government, aims to strengthen media literacy initiatives across Europe at a time when false information increasingly poses threats to democratic institutions and public discourse.

“In an era dominated by social media and rapid information dissemination, equipping young people with the tools to identify and counter disinformation has become essential,” said a spokesperson for Monaco’s diplomatic mission to the Council of Europe. “This contribution reflects our belief that protecting quality journalism is fundamental to preserving democratic values.”

The “Journalists Matter” campaign, launched by the Council of Europe in 2022, operates across multiple European countries with the dual mission of supporting independent journalism and developing media literacy skills among youth. The program includes educational workshops, digital learning platforms, and collaborative projects between schools and media professionals.

Monaco’s contribution will specifically target educational initiatives designed to help students distinguish between credible news sources and misleading content. These programs aim to foster a generation of more discerning information consumers who understand the crucial role of quality journalism in democratic societies.

Media literacy experts have highlighted the timeliness of Monaco’s support, as recent studies show alarming trends in how young people consume and share information. According to research by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, more than 60% of Europeans under 25 now primarily access news through social media platforms, where verification standards often remain inconsistent.

“The challenge we face is unprecedented,” explained Catherine Morin-Desailly, a prominent European media education advocate. “Young people are bombarded with information from countless sources, yet many lack the critical frameworks to evaluate what they’re seeing. Programs like these help build those essential skills.”

Monaco’s involvement in the initiative also reflects its broader diplomatic strategy of engaging with international organizations on issues related to education and digital governance. Despite its small size, the principality has increasingly positioned itself as an advocate for responsible digital citizenship in international forums.

The Council of Europe’s Secretary General welcomed Monaco’s contribution, noting that such partnerships between member states are vital for addressing cross-border challenges like disinformation campaigns. “The spread of false information recognizes no national boundaries, so our response must be equally borderless,” the Secretary General stated in a press release acknowledging the contribution.

Educators involved in the program emphasize its practical approach. Rather than simply warning students about fake news, the initiative focuses on building analytical skills applicable across different media formats and platforms. Workshops teach participants to examine source credibility, recognize emotional manipulation techniques, and understand the economic models that sometimes incentivize sensationalism over accuracy.

Several schools in Monaco have already implemented pilot versions of the media literacy curriculum, with promising results. Teachers report increased student engagement with current events and more sophisticated analysis of information sources following participation in the program.

The principality’s contribution comes amid growing recognition that disinformation represents a significant security concern for European democracies. Intelligence agencies across the continent have documented systematic attempts by both state and non-state actors to influence public opinion through coordinated disinformation campaigns, particularly during election periods.

“What we’re seeing is that media literacy has evolved from an educational nice-to-have to a democratic necessity,” explained Jean Dupont, a digital policy researcher with the European Digital Rights Initiative. “Monaco’s support for this program acknowledges that reality.”

The funding will be allocated to expanding the campaign’s reach throughout 2023 and 2024, with particular emphasis on developing multilingual resources and training more educators to implement the curriculum in diverse educational settings across Council of Europe member states.