The aim of the General Assembly on Information (États généraux de l’information), launched in 2023 and steered by an independent steering committee, is to propose a plan of concrete actions for the world of information in France, laying the foundations for a model media and digital space for future generations and involving professionals, researchers and citizens.
Cartooning for Peace is present at the General Assembly’s debriefing on 12 September 2024 at the Economic, Social and Environmental Council in Paris.
The General Assembly presented 15 recommendations to improve the world of information and in particular to combat misinformation.
In recommendation number 1, the report proposes to : “Make critical thinking and media education in schools a priority”.
“Everyone forms their own opinion based on the information they have access to, but no-one is immune from being exposed to misinformation or disinformation, especially in an information environment that has been turned upside down. Knowing how to use it and exercising a critical mind is therefore essential. We therefore propose to increase the amount of teaching on critical thinking and facts in the school curricula currently being overhauled. We also propose to make media and information education part of the time allocated to moral and civic education, on the basis of the compulsory projects planned from 5th to 3rd year. A steering group for this teaching, with the necessary resources, must be set up within the Directorate General for School Education, and an evaluation of the results of this reform must be carried out by 2027 at the latest. We want to give all future citizens access to a varied range of quality professional news media on their online personal workspace. This would include political and general information publications and the youth information press.”
From its beginning, Cartooning for Peace has attached particular importance to Media and Information Education and Education for Citizenship and International Solidarity, and is delighted that this issue has been given such prominence in the General Assembly on Information’s report.
