Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

In a proactive move to equip Quebec’s youth with essential tools to navigate today’s complex
information landscape, Mathieu Lacombe, Quebec’s Minister of Culture and Communications
and Minister responsible for Youth, has introduced the Program for a Well-Informed Youth. This
new initiative, developed in partnership with the Secretariat for Youth, invites a wide range of
local organizations to propose projects that focus on strengthening media literacy and fostering
critical thinking among young Quebecers. Applications for project funding, which can reach up to
$50,000 per qualifying project, will be accepted until December 17, 2024.

The program’s timing responds to a growing reality: young people in Quebec, much like their
peers worldwide, predominantly turn to social media for news. A recent study by Quebec’s
Académie de la transformation numérique found that 62% of Quebecers aged 18 to 24 rely
primarily on social platforms for current events, where algorithms often reinforce existing views
and can accelerate the spread of misinformation. A 2018 study by MIT found that false
information spreads six times faster than accurate news online, a dynamic that complicates
young people’s ability to distinguish credible content from misleading information.

The initiative has two key components. The first focuses on developing critical thinking among
youth, particularly those aged 12 to 29, to empower them to analyze and evaluate the wide
array of information they encounter daily. The second component encourages the creation of
news content by and for young people, promoting youth engagement with current events in
formats and perspectives that resonate with them. By supporting the production of news content
that speaks directly to youth audiences, the program aims to foster informed dialogue and
create a sustainable interest in quality journalism.

Minister Lacombe, who has a background in journalism, expressed his commitment to
supporting this initiative. “Supporting media literacy among young people is critical,” he said.
“Through education and critical thinking, we’re helping tomorrow’s citizens make informed
choices. Combating misinformation and promoting youth-driven content are essential steps in
ensuring that quality information reaches and resonates with them.”

Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, cooperatives, Indigenous groups, colleges,
universities, libraries, and media outlets with a youth-focused mission. Projects under the
program are expected to support either the development of critical media literacy skills or the
production of youth-oriented news content, with an emphasis on digital media formats that
appeal to younger audiences.

Interested organizations can apply until December 17, 2024, with further details available on the
program’s official webpage at: www.quebec.ca/culture/aide-financiere/aide-aux-projets-
appel/jeunesse-bien-informee/programme-pour-une-jeunesse-bien-informee.​

Photo: Quebec Minister of Culture and Communications, Mathieu Lacombe, has launched a
new program to promote media literacy and critical thinking among young Quebecers, offering
up to $50,000 in funding for projects aimed at combating misinformation and supporting youth-
focused news content. (TF) Photo: courtesy of Secrétariat à la jeunesse du Québec