Judges at the MLI Awards praised the project for its relevance, originality, and impact. They noted that the initiative was particularly timely given the current media landscape, and highlighted its strong combination of depth and reach.

Áine Ní Chaoindealbháin, Managing Director, Virgin Media Television noted how Virgin Media recognises the important role that media literacy plays in strengthening trust in public service media, promoting media pluralism and supporting a flourishing media landscape.

Each winner received a handcrafted trophy by Irish woodcraft artist Cian Magill, symbolising awareness, critical thinking, and the drive to create positive change.

Participants raised concerns about the impact of AI on authors, the role of libraries in supporting students with schoolwork, and the need to improve public literacy. The discussion highlighted the increasing relevance of digital and media literacy in library work.

These themes are part of the Skills for Life programme and the current Public Library Strategy in Ireland, which are active in all 30 local authority library services and funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.

“Disinformation, Gender, and AI: The Power of Media and Information Literacy” was the title of the final conference for the European projects AlgoWatch and GenderED Coalition, which took place in Paris on 29 September 2025.

Hosted by Sorbonne Nouvelle University, the high-level hybrid event was attended by more than 140 participants, including experts, policymakers, and activists from across Europe. A key session, “Algowatch as a new perspective on MIL and AI literacy,” was moderated by Zach Bastick.

The panel featured project experts who shared their insights: Divina Frau-Meigs discussed the effectiveness of AI literacy within a media and information literacy (MIL) framework; Aphra Kerr presented on gamified strategies for MIL; Tamara Kvas shared lessons learned from capacity-building through training; and Vitor Tomé spoke about networking and dissemination to reach larger communities.

The conference served as a launchpad for future action to counter disinformation powered by AI. The results and findings will be transferred to EDMO and other European disinformation hubs, including DE FACTO, IBERIFIER, and IDMO, to benefit other EU countries.

Students from the 11th grade at Lagoa Secondary School in the Azores, Portugal, organised an AlgoWatch exhibition on 30 September, marking the final day of the project. The initiative, held in the school’s atrium, was open to the entire school community but was specifically aimed at students in the 9th and 10th grades.

During the event, students had the opportunity to take quizzes, play the Eunopia video game, and explore other resources from the project. The exhibition was organised with the support of teachers and other members of the school community, including Chemistry and Physics teacher Paula Silva and school director Alexandre Oliveira, both of whom had previously been involved in validating the project’s resources.

Photos and a video from the event are available to view on the project’s Instagram page.