By B.Nandin

The opening ceremony of the project “Strengthening Mongolian Democracy: Empowering Civil Society through Media and Information Literacy (2026–2028)” was held on April 29 in Ulaanbaatar. The initiative is being implemented by the Press Institute of Mongolia with funding from the Delegation of the European Union to Mongolia.

EU Ambassador to Mongolia Ina Marciulionyte stated that media and information literacy is not merely a technical skill, but a fundamental competency for democratic life. She noted that it enables citizens to distinguish reliable information from misinformation and disinformation, engage responsibly in the digital environment, and participate meaningfully in public discourse, thereby strengthening democratic values.

The project is being carried out in partnership with the European Association for Viewers’ Interests. Its director, Paolo Celot, emphasized that media literacy goes beyond basic skills, requiring critical thinking, digital competence and even emotional awareness to help individuals resist manipulation and better assess information quality.

Mongolia’s media landscape has undergone rapid changes in recent years, particularly with the rise of AI-generated content, which has significantly altered how information is produced, distributed and consumed. This has intensified concerns about misinformation, unreliable sources and declining news quality.

At the “Media Mongolia 2026” national conference, media professionals described the sector as facing a “triple crisis” driven by technological disruption, economic instability and legal and ethical challenges. At the same time, low public trust in information highlights the urgent need to strengthen citizens’ ability to critically evaluate media content.

Project organizers stress that media and information literacy should be seen not only as an individual skill set, but as a cornerstone of a stable and resilient democratic society. The project will include baseline research, a series of trainings, public discussions and the development of policy recommendations, implemented in phases through 2028.

Source: Zuuniimedee № 83 (7825) May 1, 2026

In an age of widespread misinformation, choose facts you can trust.

Zuunii Medee delivers verified, credible, and reliable news. Stand with the truth.

Support independent journalism — subscribe Zuunii Medee today. www.zuuniimedee.mn