Enhancing Key Civic Competences for the Post-truth Era: News Literacy and Critical Thinking (ESSENTIAL) Project is dedicated to improving news literacy and critical thinking in the post-truth era.

The overall project objective is to contribute to the development of self-aware citizens who think critically and have developed news literacy skills which is a precondition to relevantly and efficiently participate in social and democratic processes of their communities and at European level.

• To improve the human and digital (online) resources of 4 partner institutions, more than 50 associated partners and other stakeholders in the field of critical thinking and news literacy, to actively and permanently educate citizens in this field.
• To improve critical thinking and news literacy skills of adults (and younger people) from 4 partner countries and all those who know English language across Europe and the globe, by creating educational online course as well as by onsite courses that will be permanently organized by partner institutions and other involved stakeholders.
• Creating a virtual education place (MOOC) where adult teachers/trainers from 4 partner countries and across Europe will be able to acquire or improve their knowledge on news literacy; MOOC will also be a tool/resource for them to use it during the teaching process.

The project will raise awareness of the importance of critical thinking and understanding of media content, both for a citizen as an individual and for the development of a democratic society in general.