At Kingswood Community College in Dublin, teacher Niamh O’Halloran and student Sol Stuart wanted to challenge the polarised way migration is often discussed online. Their documentary, called Polarised, focuses on how our consumption of media and the rise of disinformation and misinformation are leading to political polarisation. Their vision was to help young people move beyond “for or against” arguments and instead build empathy, critical thinking, and deeper understanding of complex global issues.
Inspired by learning in Politics & Society classes and supported by the GET Teaching and Learning Units, Niamh O’Halloran and Sol Stuart saw an opportunity to use creative storytelling to explore how media and online spaces influence attitudes.
The result was Polarised, which prompted viewers to reflect on how extreme views develop, while fulfilling a specific curriculum requirement for the Citizenship Project in Leaving Certificate Politics and Society
Rather than debating opinions, they chose to investigate how opinions are formed and reinforced. Feedback from surveys, comments, and messages showed increased awareness and openness among audiences. Some participants even shared that answering the survey questions helped them become more open-minded—showing the power of structured reflection.
Migration is frequently framed through simplified narratives that increase division. Polarised helped shift viewers from passive media consumption to thoughtful engagement and empathy. The National Competition winning video further amplified its reach, proving student-led projects can foster dialogue and challenge polarisation.
Watch the full documentary here: Polarised – winner of the Right Focus 2025. Download our Teaching and Learning Units and let them inspire you!
