Non-governmental organization ‘NEXT MEDIA GROUP’ (NMG) was officially founded on 16th January 2006, but in fact we operate since 1999. In 1999 Arkadiy Platonov founded a creative youth studio in Riga secondary school №13 which focused on multi-media projects (TV and internet projects, creative, documentary, informative and educational films). The aims of NMG are to develop and encourage youth participation in media, to involve young people in social life using multi-media tools and to support youth public, civic and political activity.
The motto of NMG is ‘From Youth To Youth’ which means that all our projects are made BY young people and FOR young people. Young people (15-30) actively participate in NMG projects as film editors, cameramen, directors, script writers and reporters. They gain and develop their creative skills in multi-media field. Thus not only those who address our media works but also those who make them benefit from NMG projects. Project makers gain experience in multi-media field, but audience has opportunity to look at youth problems and interests from the point of view of young people. Currently NMG has 60 members.
Our production is aimed at informing young people about actual issues; at raising the level of youth participation in social and political processes; at promoting cultural diversity, tolerance and human rights. At national level NMG has successfully worked in cooperation with the Latvian Television, Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia and the Department of Education, Youth and Sport of the Riga City Council. NEXT MEDIA GROUP is a member of a pan-European association of youth media NGOs ‘European Youth4media Network e.V.’ and the National Youth Council of Latvia.