Associate Professor Kačinová represented the FMK at an international media literacy conference in Mexico

From June 23 to 25, 2026, the 8th Alfamed International Congress, titled Media Literacy for Everyone, Regardless of Age, took place in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. The event provided a forum for expert discussion on current challenges in the field of media education, the development of media literacy, and the responsible use of digital technologies.

Doc. PhDr. Viera Kačinová, PhD., from the Department of Media Education at the Faculty of Media and Communication (FMK) of UCM in Trnava was the sole representative of Slovakia at the congress, thereby also representing the faculty’s academic community. The event brought together participants from 21 countries, and more than 150 academic presentations were delivered in Spanish.

Participation in the Alfamed conference provided an opportunity to present the Slovak perspective on media education within an international professional community.

Expert Discussion on Disinformation and Digital Habits

Associate Professor Kačinová spoke on a panel of experts titled Europe and the Ibero-American Region in the Fight Against Disinformation: What Models of Media and Information Literacy Are We Creating? The discussion focused on the need to find effective ways to develop media and information literacy and to strengthen people’s ability to navigate the information environment in response to the massive prevalence of information disruptions in the digital environment.

In the section Edu-Communication in Action: Innovative Classroom Practices, she also presented research conducted in collaboration with doctoral student Lenka Zgútová in a paper titled Strategies for Regulating Students’ Habits to Achieve a Balanced Digital Life. The topic reflects the need to pay attention not only to the possibilities offered by digital technologies but also to the ways in which students use them in their daily lives.

Alfamed connects experts in the field of media education

The Alfamed Congress is organized by an international network of experts focused on research into citizens’ media literacy. The Euro-American inter-university network Alfamed brings together more than 450 researchers from 22 countries who collaborate on academic and research activities, outreach efforts, and the creation and dissemination of knowledge in the field of media education.

Media education is one of the key areas of research at the FMK UCM in Trnava, which has long been developing topics related to media, communication, and education. The participation of faculty experts in international academic events helps connect the Slovak academic community with international research networks. At the same time, it provides new inspiration for both educational and research activities.

Photo source: Viera Kačinová