From deliberate hoaxes created to cause mischief, manipulate opinions and votes or make money, to media outlets re-circulating unverified or erroneous content, the misinformation ecosystem can take ​on ​many different faces. What are the propaganda techniques used to shift public opinion on key issues? What is the impact of fake news on the functioning of modern democracies?

News publishers around the world are constantly upgrading their skills, tools and processes in order to adapt their fact-checking practices and journalism standards to a challenging digital environment. Newspapers and news websites are also actively collaborating with tech companies and journalism schools through fact-checking networks enabled by digital collaborative platforms.

Social media networks and search engines are among the most popular channels of content distribution and consumption in developed countries. It is naturally on these platforms that misinformation first surfaces and spreads. From direct actions on their own assets to the offering of tech tools, collaborative platforms and partnerships with news media and fact-checking networks, tech companies such as Facebook and Google are at the forefront of the fight against misinformation.

According to a Stanford University study, most US students are not able to make the difference between a fake news and a verified information published by a trustworthy news brand. The development of media literacy programs and initiatives adapted to the new digital ecosystem is therefore a high priority. The education of citizens to a savvy consumption of digital content and the adoption of good practices in the creation and distribution of such content is a responsibility shared by many players of the civil society.

Separate registration required

Following the discussions on June 19, the second day of the present event will feature a series of workshops which will gather experts and key players in the field of fact-checking, news literacy and media policy. Participants in these workshops will design concrete actions and launch projects for effectively fight misinformation in their respective spheres of competence. Invitations to the workshops can be requested by email at [email protected].

This workshop will gather university professors, high school teachers, government agencies and media practitioners that are involved in news media literacy. It aims at designing new campaigns and initiatives for improving information media and info literacy, especially among the youth.