Fact-checking

Tools

  • Keywords:
  • Countering Disinformation
  • Disinformation
  • Fact-checking
  • Media monitoring
  • Languages:
  • Keywords:
  • Countering Disinformation
  • Fact-checking
  • Media monitoring
  • Languages:
  • Keywords:
  • Countering Disinformation
  • Media Literacy
  • Digital Security
  • Disinformation
  • Fact-checking
  • Resilience
  • Open Data
  • Digital Activism
  • False narratives
  • OSINT (open-source intelligence)
  • Organizational resilience
  • Languages:
  • English
  • English
Disinformation can spread like fire in today's digital age. To mitigate the threat, the TechSoup Guide on Digital Tools for Countering Disinformation equips activists and CSOs with a range of digital tools to identify, analyze, and counter disinformation effectively.The rapid spread of disinformation threatens societies worldwide. This free-of-charge guide is tailored for activists and CSOs, providing practical knowledge and tools, to navigate and combat digital falsehoods. Whether you're a novice or an expert in countering disinformation, the guide offers valuable insights and step-by-step instructions for everyone.Why is it worth using the Guide on Digital Tools for Countering Disinformation?Head to the guide to get:Comprehensive Tool Overview: Detailed descriptions of tools across various categories, such as social media monitoring, image and video analysis, or cybersecurity.Practical Usage Examples: Real-world scenarios demonstrating how to leverage these tools effectively.User-Friendly Guidance: Step-by-step instructions to ensure tools are accessible to all skill levels.Expert Recommendations: Curated selection based on relevance, effectiveness, and practicality, prepared by TechSoup Experts and Partners.✅🔗 See it for yourself! Dive into the guide and arm yourself with knowledge to promote and protect truth, and accuracy in the digital information space! Download the Guide here!

Posts

Navigating Disinformation Trends and Civil Society Challenges in Central and Eastern Europe: Regional Mapping Reports 2023-2024

In an era where disinformation is a persistent threat to democratic societies, understanding its complex and evolving nature is crucial for the resilience of civil society organizations (CSOs) and the wider society.

Hive Mind | 4 min read | Aug 30, 2024

How to Identify an Image Created by Artificial Intelligence?

Images created by artificial intelligence are becoming more and more realistic, and thus more difficult to distinguish from real photographs. There are several methods which may be used to identify photographs created by AI, by noticing their unnatural textures or warped backgrounds.

Metamorphosis Foundation | 2 min read | Aug 20, 2024

Decisive Election Year in Moldova: Kremlin's Disinformation Narratives Demonizing the West

The message that the EU is useless for Moldova has been perpetuated for ten years, in all electoral periods: be it the general local, parliamentary or presidential elections, after Chișinău signed the Association Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union. This autumn, when Moldovans choose their future country president, they will also decide the future of their country’s alliances: with the East or with the West.

Lilia Cravcenco-Zaharia | 5 min read | Jul 30, 2024

Introducing DeepFakeShield: Dren Gerguri's 6-Step Model to Combat AI Manipulation

The rise of AI technology has raised significant concerns about the spread of disinformation, but also about fraud and privacy breaches. Deepfakes, which are highly realistic synthetic media messages created using artificial intelligence, have a potential to deceive and manipulate on a massive scale. These sophisticated manipulations could be done in different forms, such as video, audio, and image, and the result is often indistinguishable, making it very challenging to discern a difference between real and manipulated content.

Dren Gerguri | 4 min read | Jul 3, 2024

Ukraine Solidarity Response Initiative: Empowering Communities and Countering Disinformation

The Ukraine Solidarity Response Initiative (USRI) was born out of a critical need to fight the rampant disinformation related to the war in Ukraine after full invasion in 2022.

Hive Mind | 4 min read | Jun 26, 2024

Food – Disinformation Topic of Opportunity in N. Macedonia

One of the disinformation frontlines concerns food and its production. Its aim is to spread fabrications through these topics to support the Kremlin's “traditional” long-term disinformation narratives. These narratives are largely about the decadent West disregarding traditional values, the upcoming catastrophe, which is always around the corner, but never actually happens and caring more about the LGBTQ+ community than about the so-called traditional families.

Hive Mind | 4 min read | Jun 25, 2024

Fact-Checking Fundamentals: Essential Source Analysis Tools for Everyone

In a world flooded with information, determining the credibility of sources we use to inform our choices is more critical than ever. Source analysis tools are essential for verifying the reliability of news and information, helping us to separate fact from fiction.

Daniel Milo | 2 min read | Jun 25, 2024

Spotting Fake Media: The Essential Image and Video Analysis Tools You Need

We live in an era where visual content can be easily manipulated. Thus, image and video analysis tools are crucial for verifying the authenticity of media. Learn how to utilize these tools to detect alterations, trace origins, and ensure the integrity of images and videos.

Daniel Milo | 1 min read | Jun 25, 2024

A Lie Repeated Often Enough: The Importance of Narratives in Disinformation

Believing that both COVID and the vaccines have been engineered as bioweapons is predicated, at least in part, on influencers and media outlets keeping on repeating the claim. The same can be said for other beliefs, such as in the QAnon conspiracy theory, centered around the claim that there is a cabal of elites that traffic children and consume their blood, or insisting that the 2020 US elections have been “stolen”, despite significant evidence to the contrary.

Ciprian Cucu | 7 min read | Jun 18, 2024

Learning Groups: A Deep Dive into Countering Disinformation. Closed-Group Online Training | June - October 2024 | CERV EEAD

What is the aim of the Learning Groups?

We aim to create a safe and inspiring learning space for activists, educators, and local leaders from EU member states, who are working in an environment vulnerable to disinformation.

Hive Mind | 5 min read | May 24, 2024

Subtle Disinformation: True Facts and Manipulation

There is an interesting trend in the alternative media ecosystem to claim that journalists, academics, and media analysts that expose false narratives are just attacking valid opinions, labelling them misinformation, disinformation or propaganda to discredit them. Ironically, this belief is the foundation of several false narratives used to attack mainstream media and promote themselves.

Ciprian Cucu | 5 min read | May 23, 2024

Rethinking ‘Fake News’

In today's world of lightning-fast information sharing through digital platforms, it's important to understand the different types of misinformation and disinformation. However, some terms used to describe them, such as "fake news" and "propaganda," can be confusing and even politically charged. It's easy to get lost in the mix and lose sight of what's true and accurate. But don't worry, we are here to help you navigate this complex landscape!

Magdalena Wilczyńska | 9 min read | May 6, 2024

Know Your Rights! What Can You Say and What You Cannot Say?

At the request of the NIOK Foundation, TASZ has compiled a useful information leaflet, primarily for civilians, to help you assert your collective and individual interests and rights more effectively.

NIOK | 16 min read | Apr 30, 2024

Tools and Tips for Verifying Online Information by Dren Gërguri

Are you tired of falling victim to online disinformation? Explore Dren Gërguri's comprehensive three-part video tutorial series, "Tools and Tips for Verifying Online Information," and equip yourself with essential skills to discern truth from deception.

Dren Gerguri | 2 min read | Apr 5, 2024

Unmasking Deepfake Phishing: Protecting Yourself From New Tactics in the Age of AI

Phishing is not new, has been used to hack or infiltrate for decades. Today, everyone is trying to get in step with the technological evolution. Phishers are not an exclude from that. They are evolving their techniques too. Recently, a new tactic is in surface, and this one is based in AI-generation. Deepfake phishing is a new tactic that adds to the range of challenges we will face from now on and of which we must be very aware.

Dren Gerguri | 3 min read | Apr 2, 2024

Audio Deepfakes and AI-Tricks Threaten Elections Around the World

Nowadays, almost anybody can create audio or video recordings of celebrities or regular people acting and talking in ways they never would have by using simple, widely accessible artificial intelligence software. The rights of the persons whose voices and images are being appropriated will need to be more seriously protected. Big tech-companies have teamed up in a historic attempt to stop the misuse application of AI in the upcoming elections throughout the world.

Dren Gerguri | 4 min read | Mar 28, 2024

War in Gaza, Part II: Israel and the Hamas – How to Recognize Propaganda?

Here we are, in the center of one of the bloodiest conflicts of the century. How not to get crazy about it? How to recognize when we are manipulated? Forget about straightforward posters of World War II – most propaganda efforts nowadays are hard to recognize, hidden and, many times, spread with no intention or awareness. That is why we prepared nine simple rules to remember, which will help you to spot the propaganda.

Karol Wilczyński | 6 min read | Feb 8, 2024

Surviving Elections-Related Disinformation: The Case of South Africa

The advent of the internet, and social media platforms in particular, has fundamentally changed how we engage with the world, including how we communicate, socialise, learn, work, and participate. While this has presented significant opportunities for the right to freedom of expression, it has also raised several pressing challenges regarding the dissemination of information online, more especially during an election period.

Azola | 7 min read | Feb 5, 2024

Bombastic news published on a portal you're hearing about for the first time? Check the imprint

The influx of media content in cyberspace sometimes makes us, as readers, seek information that is different from the rest. For the public, it is crucial to “discover” something new that brings fresh insights into certain important societal issues or questions of personal interest to individuals. However, sometimes behind the “new things”, we see bombastic headlines, spectacular claims unsupported by evidence, unconfirmed or unofficial information, as well as disinformation that can cause more harm than lead to positive change in society.

Бојан Блажевски | 3 min read | Jan 11, 2024

Deepfake and the risk from the massification of video fraud

About 6 years ago, I wrote about a new 'virus' for journalism. Despite the fact that several years have passed, there is still no 'anti-virus' against deepfake, which has advanced, perfected and the last step is to simplify the production process of these hoax videos.

Dren Gerguri | 4 min read | Dec 18, 2023

Kosovo on the radar of the Russia-Ukraine disinformation “war”

Propaganda and the attack on the truth have been grounded in humanity for centuries. If you read George Orwell's essay, “Review of the Spanish War”, it seems that he is talking about propaganda in the year 2022, but in fact that essay was written entirely 8 decades ago.

Dren Gerguri | 4 min read | Dec 18, 2023

Unmasking disinformation in electoral campaigns - case studies from Poland and Slovakia

As the dust settles from the political storms related to elections that swept Poland and Slovakia in the fall of 2023, we dissect the disinformation tactics that played a crucial role in shaping the election outcomes. From attacking opponents with hoaxes to adopting anti-Ukrainian narratives, and even incorporating artificial intelligence to spread fabricated content, the playbook of political deception is evolving. What can we learn from that example?

Magdalena Wilczyńska | 13 min read | Nov 29, 2023

Addressing Anti-Western and Anti-NATO Narratives: Building a More Informed Perspective in Times of Uncertainty

Discussing anti-Western narratives is a hot topical issue nowadays, but not a new one - just as propaganda is not an expression of our times, but has a long history behind it. I will not talk about the general course of anti-Western propaganda in Eastern Europe and especially in Romania, but about my personal experience with this field and the sometimes arduous process of countering it with honest and transparent means.

Laura Burtan | 9 min read | Nov 14, 2023

Drowning in a Sea of Lies: Disinformation and Democracy

The 2015-2017 period, that brought us Brexit and Donald Trump with his “alternative facts”, also brought politicians the revelation that lying is detrimental to one’s career only if one admits to lying, when one gets caught.

Ciprian Cucu | 9 min read | Oct 31, 2023

NIOK | 10 min read | Oct 18, 2023

Decoding Disinformation: Navigating Civil Society Challenges in CEE - Disinformation and Civil Society Regional Mapping Reports 2022 - 2023

Within the Digital Activism Program conducted by TechSoup and its partners in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) since 2018, a pivotal activity focusing on supporting Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in being more resilient to disinformation has been underway. We believe at TechSoup that to bring about change, we must first diagnose the needs of the organizations we support and analyze the current socio-political situation in the countries where we operate. This belief is central to shaping the foundation for all future project activities.

Hive Mind | 2 min read | Sep 15, 2023

FITS DEMOCRACY 2023 - KEY TAKEAWAYS

MAKAIA had the privilege of participating in the regional event FITS Democracy 2023, where important topics regarding disinformation, polarization, technology, and innovation were discussed, all within the context of Latin America and the Colombian Caribbean.

MAKAIA | 1 min read | Sep 4, 2023

Do you check who set up the latest Facebook group?

Facebook is an attractive space for “meetings,” but too often the debate in such groups can be misleading or full of misinformation. Sometimes a group admin creates a page by pretending to be someone famous. In politically and socially emotive moments, few people check who manages the group. Group admins often grant themselves the exclusive right to add and remove content in the group and, thus, to influence the narratives and emotions in the group.

Beata Zwierzynska | 8 min read | Aug 2, 2023

How to resist conspiracy theories?

It takes just a few simple steps to determine whether we have strayed into conspiracy thinking. By understanding what characterizes such thinking, we can examine on our own, or with the help of a friend, whether we are exhibiting healthy skepticism or unwarranted suspicion. In fostering healthy skepticism, it can be helpful to have basic knowledge about the process of creating reliable information.

Beata Zwierzynska | 4 min read | Jul 31, 2023

The Weather Is Not the Climate: How False Narratives Are Delaying Climate Change Policies

Climate change is a reality, the global average temperature is now approximately 1°C higher than in the preindustrial era (1880-1900). However, denialism seems to get stronger, propped up by fossil fuel corporations, conservative media, and political groups. From misrepresenting the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration to claiming that climate change is a hoax meant as part of a conspiracy to take over the world, disinformation on the topic is intensifying. We should understand it better and fight it wherever we encounter it; our future may depend on it.

Ciprian Cucu | 9 min read | Jul 31, 2023

COVID-19 and the Infodemic Affected the Information-Seeking Habits in the Kosovo Society

Results of the study about the infodemic in Kosovo during COVID-19, published recently in the journal, “Media and Communication”, show that COVID-19 has had a great impact on people’s behavior when it comes to information.This research analyzed at how people used the media during COVID-19 and how well they could tell the difference between false or misleading information and the truth.

Dren Gerguri | 5 min read | Jul 4, 2023

Climate lies and dirty tactics: The damage of online disinformation campaigns

As the world grapples with the increasingly pressing need to address climate change and environmental issues, online disinformation campaigns have emerged as a powerful tool in the manipulation of public perspective, inspiring scepticism, and spreading false information.

Sibongile Ndlovu | 7 min read | Jun 14, 2023

A Model to Analyse Online Misinformation

In the effort to counter disinformation and improve media literacy, there are several known models for verifying if news articles accurately represent facts and events. However, nowadays, a significant part of communication is informal, for example in the form of social media posts. In such informal forums, misinformation continues to spread with the help of influencers. A new model is thus needed to analyze this type of media content.

Ciprian Cucu | 8 min read | May 4, 2023

The hybrid war and the 4 Ds of disinformation about the tensions in the north of Kosovo

Hybrid threats can result in war, and this has been proven by Russia, with the start of the war in Ukraine, after several years of hybrid war with Ukraine. The hybrid war includes a combination of traditional and non-traditional means with coordinated actions in the political, economic, military and information domains.

Dren Gerguri | 7 min read | Apr 26, 2023

Hive Mind Launch in South Africa: Countering Disinformation in the Civic Space

The Hive Mind* launch in South Africa was a success. We are thankful to all our speakers who gave incredible presentations and supported the need for Hive Mind to help civil society and build digital resilience.

Sibongile Ndlovu | 4 min read | Apr 14, 2023

Kosovar society challenges of distinguishing disinformation from accurate information

Research findings show that people cannot tell the difference between false and real news. This problem also affects Kosovo society, which has a high percentage of internet access (93%). One of the signs that disinformation influences the public in Kosovo is the outcome of the Raka case which is explained below.

Dren Gerguri | 5 min read | Mar 28, 2023

Fake news is never without mass decay

Fake news is used to manipulate and dictate and shape their decision making. Fake news can damage our public discourse. We need to raise awareness and understanding of disinformation and be mindful that our freedom of expression could harm others. The time is now to verify all information.

Hive Mind | 6 min read | Mar 23, 2023

ChatGPT and the inclusion of artificial intelligence in the world of (dis)information

Artificial intelligence is changing and will change even more the way we live and work. This simulation of artificial intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans have made it possible for humans to be replaced by machines today in some fields. But what does this mean in the field of information and what could be the misuses that we should beware of?

Dren Gerguri | 4 min read | Feb 24, 2023

Empowering Europeans Against Disinformation (EEAD) - Project Description, Scope, and Activity Updates

The Empowering Europeans Against Disinformation (EEAD) project is part of TechSoup Network’s Digital Activism Program.

Since 2018, the program has been offering complex support to civil society organizations (CSOs) and their staff in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), Latin America and West Africa. In the area of countering disinformation, the program strives to increase their understanding of direct disinformation threats, strengthen their capacity to deal with disinformation, boost their knowledge in this field and expand their connections within the nonprofit network.

Hive Mind | 32 min read | Feb 17, 2023

The Role of NGOs in Countering Disinformation in Africa: A Vital Tool for Community Empowerment

Disinformation has become a widespread problem in Africa, with the rise of social media and the internet making it easier for false information to spread. Disinformation can cause harm to individuals and communities, create social and political divisions, and undermine public trust in institutions and leaders. NGOs and charity organizations in Africa play a crucial role in combating it, as they are often on the front lines in communities and have a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities for promoting digital literacy and critical thinking skills.

Kwame Asante | 4 min read | Feb 4, 2023

What is behind the use of social networks? Webinar takeaways

Cyberpsychologist Gordon Ingram explains the social and psychological consequences of the dynamics promoted by the Internet and social networks.

MAKAIA | 3 min read | Jan 23, 2023

The Future of Disinformation

Several experts give their opinion on the possible global outlook regarding disinformation. Some remain optimistic, while others believe it is a problem that has no solution.

MAKAIA | 5 min read | Nov 1, 2022

Why and how are we vulnerable to disinformation?

The reasons behind the behaviors that accept and promote disinformation.

MAKAIA | 3 min read | Nov 1, 2022

Fact-checking and fake news in the Colombian and Chilean context

Journalists and NGOs around the world have been working for countering disinformation through institutions, organizations, and associations called "fact-checkers" (or, simply: information verifiers), which are dedicated to corroborating and verifying the veracity of information and news disseminated on digital platforms. Fact-checking as we know it today was born with Factchecker.org, a website launched in December 2003 by Brooks Jackson, a former Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, and CNN reporter.

MAKAIA | 3 min read | Sep 30, 2022

Disinformation Trends in Central-Eastern Europe - key takeaways

It’s been more than 4 months since Russia escalated the war in Ukraine and we are most likely preparing for a long-term conflict with all its consequences.

Maja Durlik | 2 min read | Sep 29, 2022

Not Only “Fakes”: Popular Types of Misinformation

Digital revolution has greatly enhanced public vulnerability to manipulation by information. The trend is growing with every year and the term ‘fake news’ doesn’t cover all of its forms anymore. Find out what are the most common information disorders we encounter daily.

Hive Mind | 3 min read | Sep 8, 2022

Social and individual developments in a digitally-driven world

We will navigate the characteristics and experience that the use of the Internet has left us as human beings and understand what we leave on the Internet.

MAKAIA | 4 min read | Sep 1, 2022

Post-truth: lies that appear to be true

The term has taken the academic discussion of philosophers, journalists political scientists but is far from an intellectual discussion. It is present in our daily life and on our social networks.

MAKAIA | 6 min read | Jul 31, 2022

War-time Disinformation Landscape in the CEE 30.06 | 5 PM

Join us for a panel discussion about the current war-time disinformation landscape and learn about ways of mitigating its harmful effects.

Maja Durlik | 3 min read | Jun 15, 2022

How to measure success of your campaign: Vanity and impact metrics

Your campaign pursues a specific purpose. So, you need to understand whether your actions make the intended impact. In order to do this right, you need the right kind of metrics.

Hive Mind | 2 min read | Jun 14, 2022

Online Campaigning: Get into the Crux of the Matter with Problem Tree Analysis

When getting ready to design your online campaign, first, you need to understand the scope of the challenge you are tackling. You ought to figure out what IS the specific problem you should address with your campaign and what is its cause.

Hive Mind | 3 min read | Jun 2, 2022

Anti-NATO Disinformation Tactics from the War in Kosovo

“NATO intervention in the Kosovo war was unjustified”. This is the narrative that the Russian and Serbian propaganda has been trying to push forward for many years.

Dren Gerguri | 3 min read | May 12, 2022

“Civil Society's Response in Help for Ukraine” – online discussion, MAY 17, 5 PM CET

While the war in Ukraine progresses and we are forced to watch the brave men and women fight for their country’s freedom and independence, many others are organizing their lives after being forced to flee their country.

Hive Mind | 6 min read | May 6, 2022

The 4Ds Model to Recognize Disinformation

Disinformation techniques are numerous, but all of them can fall into one of those four categories: dismiss, distort, distract, or dismay. Here is the rule of thumb that will help you recognize, predict and prepare to counter disinformation.

Hive Mind | 4 min read | Apr 11, 2022

What are Echo Chambers and how to escape from one :-)

Information can come from various sources. Most often than not, you would pick up your smartphone or open your laptop and start scrolling through content; clicking on and sharing whatever looks interesting. However, it is good to know what is going on behind the scenes…

Hive Mind | 2 min read | Apr 4, 2022

Disinformation, Information Warfare and the Role of the Journalist

In today's digital world, information warfare is significantly more pronounced. The war in Ukraine is also taking place on several fronts of the information world, in front of video games, TikTok, and that of fact-checkers. Therefore, the focus of journalists should be on news sources, in controlling them to avoid the possibility of fraud from manipulated information.

Dren Gerguri | 4 min read | Mar 24, 2022

Why reading Facebook’s Community Standards is a Worthwhile investment of your Time

Value, nowadays, comes in lots of different forms. We have traditional ones, such as time, power, security, health, and money. However, there is another, new form of value which is not yet fully understood: digital information. In this article, our aim is to raise awareness about how Facebook affects us and our loved ones on a daily basis, and how not knowing our rights and the help we can receive open us up to potential harm in the cyberspace.

Mertek Media Monitor | 6 min read | Mar 23, 2022

Torches of Freedom

Nearly 100 years ago, on Easter Sunday, a group of women with cigarettes in their mouths walked down the most prestigious street in New York - Fifth Avenue, doing what women were not supposed to do – smoking in public, which back in the day was "not appropriate”.

Katarzyna Sadło | 3 min read | Mar 7, 2022

Disinformation and 7 common forms of information disorder

Knowledge about disinformation is more important now than ever. Critical thinking is key and it’s worth supporting it with the knowledge on how to recognize different forms of information disorder.

Hive Mind | 4 min read | Mar 2, 2022

Dezinformacja w służbie Putina, czyli o tym jak nie wpaść w tryby machiny propagandowej: webinarium 03.03.2022 (czwartek); 18:30-19:30

Hive Mind | 2 min read | Feb 28, 2022

What are the basic types of disinformation?

Media ecosystems are used to categorizing all falsehoods as fake news. However, there are differences between the types of disinformation that abound in digital media. Sure, there are fake news, but there are also other categories of misinformation.

MAKAIA | 1 min read | Feb 18, 2022

COVID is not an excuse to threaten Internet freedom

This article is a production of Ciudadania Inteligente (Ciudadania AI), a Latin American, inclusive and feminist organization that fights for social justice and for the transformation of democracies.

MAKAIA | 6 min read | Jan 12, 2022

The Origins of the Data Scientist

Datos.Org, a foundation that supports social projects in Colombia with the power of data, talks about the birth of a profession greatly discussed today and what are the challenges faced by Data Scientists.

Julian Olarte | 5 min read | Jan 3, 2022

Narratives about refugees on the Polish-Belarusian border

A humanitarian crisis has gained momentum on the Polish-Belarusian border since August 2021. Alyaksandr Lukashenko, who rules in Belarus, has encouraged thousands of people from Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen and African countries to come to Belarus. He has done this through a deliberate campaign to disrupt the European Union. Refugees are being forced to cross the Polish border, and those who disobey are being beaten. People at the border have no food or water. Many, including children, have died. We will explore two popular anti-refugee narratives and learn about alternative or counter narratives that are worth spreading and using in discussions.

Beata Zwierzynska | 7 min read | Dec 9, 2021

How to Argue with Fake News Believers?

Whether it's about the ominous powers that can be lizard-people in the skin of public figures, foreigners out to destroy a country, or chips implanted by vaccines against COVID-19, fake news is spreading like wildfire on the Internet. It's not too much of a problem if you think that there are aliens lurking behind the exteriors of politicians, like in a bad B-movie.

But it can be a concrete danger to one's immediate environment to believe that coronavirus vaccines are harmful to the human body.

How do we tell our fake-news believing friends or loved ones that they should think again about these absurd misconceptions?

Mertek Media Monitor | 2 min read | Nov 10, 2021

Media Propaganda and Disinformation: The Venezuelan Case

Digital media strategies used by the Venezuelan government, especially propaganda, provide an ample example for the way different digital tools may be used for manipulation, public opinion disinformation and favoring a particular agenda.

MAKAIA | 7 min read | Nov 8, 2021

Do Students Learn about Fake News at Hungarian Schools?

In Hungary, when it comes to the analysis of news, fake news, or in general, any sort of medium, the most suitable subject is a media lesson to learn how to approach the topic. This subject, however, is riddled with so many problems in the already convoluted education system, that in 2020, in the first iteration of the latest National Curriculum, the subject almost got entirely removed.

Mertek Media Monitor | 5 min read | Nov 3, 2021

Information war against disinformation on the Polish border - how to process information on emotional, "hot" topics?

30 Polish editors-in-chief have recently published a joint appeal to lift the ban on journalists working in the eastern border areas in Poland, where a state of emergency was introduced due to the prolonged migration crisis.

Katarzyna Sadło | 4 min read | Oct 15, 2021

Detecting Fake Sites & Social Media Channels video by Oana Despa & Codruța Simina

In this short, educational video, Oana Despa and Codruța Simina talk about manipulation and fake news. Oana is the chief editor of Buletin de București and Codruța Simina is a journalist at PressOne, an independent media project very well known in Romania. In this episode, they meet online and together try to find out how to best identify fake sites or accounts in the social network.

Oana Despa | 2 min read | Oct 11, 2021

Who are the fact-checkers?

It is only human to defend ourselves when someone challenges us or our opinions. In case, however, when they have a clear proof that what we are saying is not based on facts, it is quite logical that we should not continue spreading false statements. If someone decides to do this, regardless of the consequences or harm this may cause, they should better watch out, as it's fact-checking time!

Dajana Markovic | 1 min read | Sep 28, 2021

Social Media Manipulations: Bots and Trolls, contaminants of the online public sphere

The large number of likes, comments or distributions does not mean that it reflects the real number of people involved in that interactivity. The online public sphere is often contaminated by Bots and Trolls.

Dren Gerguri | 3 min read | Sep 23, 2021

What is Fake News?

Here are some guidelines for your greater well-being as a media consumer. Yes, we are all media consumers. You got that correctly. In the following video, you will find a number of useful tips and tricks that will aid your digital transformation from a regular media consumer to a Media Literacy Expert!

Dajana Markovic | 2 min read | Sep 20, 2021

"Cheapfakes" As a Form of Video Manipulation. How They Can Be Made in a Few Minutes.

We are living in an era when we can see or hear things that a person in fact did not say. You can’t imagine what Miroslav Lajčák, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, is declaring in this video! Check it out and see if it's truth or fiction...

Dren Gerguri | 1 min read | Sep 6, 2021

Media, reality, truth

No matter how much the media strive to capture reality, and no matter how advanced the technology, the world portrayed in the media, from news reports to science fiction and fantasy films, is always a set, constructed, selected reality. The media, on the other hand, not only filters reality, but also shapes and reflects it. It shapes attitudes, raises or lowers themes, positions and characters. The media has never been a one-way communication process in the sense that the communicator - producer and editor of the content - both can never be sure whether the message means the same to the audience as it does to him. Each and every member of the audience, has a wide range of the freedom of interpretation in the reception of media content, which is often based on their own life experiences, current situation, cognitive abilities and limitations, and complex information environment.

Mertek Media Monitor | 5 min read | Aug 18, 2021

Cheapfake as a dangerous propaganda tool: the case of a refugee from Kosovo

The case discussed in the article clearly shows that manipulating pictures has become an intentional propaganda tool, aiming to distort the truth. Any such cheapfakes are dangerous because they disfigure the reality, making people to believe something far from true.

Dren Gerguri | 3 min read | Aug 16, 2021

Motivated reasoning, or where does the belief in bull**** come from?

According to Peter Ditto from the University of California, one of the many reasons why people fall prey to the influence of misinformation lies in so-called motivated reasoning (MR).

Tomáš Kriššák | 12 min read | Aug 11, 2021

5 Reasons Why You Have To Be Media Literate

If you’re still wondering why you need to be media literate (a skill that is in high demand today more than ever!), you’ll find the answers to this question in this short video. We have singled out the five most important reasons that will help you decide to start studying the media and their messages. The process is relatively straightforward, and you will gain all the necessary skills by simply following our channel. Let’s go!

Dajana Markovic | 1 min read | Jul 30, 2021

"Project HOPE" - Podcast about a Game to Teach People How to Fight Online Trolls

In this podcast episode, you will hear Jakub Górnicki talking to Tomáš Kriššák about the Project HOPE, within which a set of tools in the form of an online game was designed to help people tackle negative consequences of the Internet and the social media, including cyber-bullying and propaganda.

Dominika Uzar | 1 min read | Jul 19, 2021

Cheapfakes in the CEE Region - WEBINAR

Major dangers and media manipulation threats in the age of disinformation

Michal Prawdzik | 1 min read | May 24, 2021

Can I tell, Jiřina? - Case Study from Czech Republic

A simple guide through the media jungle for senior citizens.

Hive Mind | 1 min read | May 18, 2021

Local Heroes

Building resilience against disinformation.

Success stories at the grassroot level.

Michal Prawdzik | 1 min read | May 10, 2021

Keith Brown: Critical thinking demands recognition of one’s own blinkers, prejudices and areas of ignorance

“Balkan history has been shaped by the territorial ambitions and disputes of the last century, and so has become a zero-sum game; it also has quasi-religious aspects, insofar as current debates reveal an implicit concern with purity and pollution underlying accusations around loyalty and betrayal. Grievances and disputes escalate; and (to pursue the game metaphor) there is no mechanism, in this case, by which both sides would agree to invest a referee with the authority to call the game fairly; the stakes are seen as too high,” says prof. Keith Brown

Hive Mind | 11 min read | Mar 25, 2021

MEGAPHONE 2021 WEBINARS - Online Resources

Missed any of our events, feeling like watching it again diving straight into the extra resources and materials? We've got it covered.

Michal Prawdzik | 2 min read | Mar 9, 2021

‘Cheapfakes’ - major danger and media manipulation threat

The advancement of technology brings up constant “innovations” in the areas of misinformation and manipulation. Recently, and more frequently, a new form of manipulation has resurfaced under the name ‘cheapfakes’ and is currently a subject to research and discussions.

Dren Gerguri | 3 min read | Feb 25, 2021

The election campaigns and use of social media during the pandemic

The ongoing pandemic situation should increase the overall use of social media during the campaign for earlier elections. In order to respect the imposed health restrictions, politicians and political parties would have to avoid party rallies and focus more increasingly on online communication.

Dren Gerguri | 5 min read | Feb 10, 2021

Who wants to brainwash you? Disinformation - how to recognize and defend yourself against it - a series of free online workshops designed for youth by Katarzyna Sadło. New dates: !!! 25 January - 15 February 2021!!!

We'd like to invite young people associated in non-governmental organizations, informal groups, dialogue bodies and activists acting on their own to free online training sessions on disinformation, recognizing it, preventing and counteracting its negative effects. The training is addressed to all those who understand the importance of disinformation in public life, who would like to learn more about the ways it works, get specific tools of recognition and methods of dealing with it. We also invite people who actively participate in public life (also at the local level) and therefore are most vulnerable to disinformation actions aimed at undermining their credibility and the trust of public opinion, necessary to effectively fight for the public good or the interests of the groups they represent.

Dominika Uzar | 2 min read | Dec 14, 2020

Mark Semoil | 2 min read | Sep 1, 2020