Portuguese journalists training teachers in the new media education landscape during COVID-19

This chapter presents seven lessons learned from the pandemic through the project Media Literacy & Journalism (2017–), implemented by the Portuguese Journalists Union in partnership with the Ministry of Education. Focused on certified face-to-face in-service teacher training (K-12) in media education, supporting and monitoring teachers developing projects in schools and communities, the project follows a mixed-method approach, collecting data through questionnaires, observation, field notes, and interviews. Due to the pandemic, several classes were interrupted, and others adapted, forcing the project to design a rapid response. Results show that teachers’ adaptation to online settings is not an issue, as they are willing to design and implement projects, both as trainees and as co-researchers. Teachers are able to develop media education activities with their pupils, using traditional and/or digital technologies, whether online or offline, and the projects can resist even during a pandemic if they are supported by the school board.