A third piece by Karol Wilczynski on disinformation around the War in Gaza. This time the author gives some tips how to take care of your own digital well-being while digesting the news.

How can an NGO benefit from its relationship with the press? What should NGOs keep in mind when they appear in the newspaper or on TV? How much impact does what the press says about them have? Is the journalist even obliged to show the material before publishing it? Many similar questions can arise for an NGO when they are in the media or want to get more publicity for their cause. It is a long learning process, but fortunately young organisations can learn from more experienced ones

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.

For medical professionals whose primary focus is mental health, it is no secret that exposing details about a committed suicide, either directly or through the media, increases the likelihood of suicidal behavior in others. There is even a term for this phenomenon – suicide contagion.

Almost all the news this year has been dominated by the development of ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in general, its various uses, and concerns about the new technology. In this article, we try to summarize where ChatGPT can help a non-profit organization in its tasks and what it cannot be trusted with.

The influx of media texts, videos, photos, as well as social media posts, nowadays is immense, as they constantly appear on our devices through which we communicate on the internet daily. Bombastic headlines and announcements of spectacular discoveries in such content often lead us to forget one of the fundamental rules of creating media content — the signature of the author behind them.

In this article you can find out more about the "Free January" campaign of the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (TASZ)

The analysis of information disorder, i.e., misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation, should include observations on what is driving these phenomena. This current article argues that the most important driver of information manipulation since 2016 is the so-called sovereignist movement. A case study on Romania is proposed in order to highlight the evolution of local sovereignists and the reliance of their political clout on misinformation and conspiracy theories.

In this article, we describe the transformation of the Hungarian media system after 2010 and what civil organizations and activists can do in this centralised system. In the first half of the article, we will discuss the antidotes, while in the second half we will present the current situation.

The most important function of this highly centralised system is to effectively convey government (and pro-government) messages. It is almost impossible to find an effective and systemic antidote to this incredible volume, but it is worthwhile and important to speak out.

Testing and experiments can make a huge difference when it comes to results. The secret to great leadership in campaigning is to be open, and accepting of feedback; in other words: having the growth mindset.

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.

If you want to involve more supporters and allies in your campaign or action, you need to learn more about them. The “Empathy Map” is a tool that helps you put yourself in the shoes of others and understand how they perceive the problem you want to solve.

It is easy to jump into problem-solving without critically evaluating the problem itself. The 4Ws method is a simple way to explore the problem space and formulate a problem statement, so you actually know what you need to focus on.

The challenge that many organizations face in communications is to build content that touches the lives of their audiences. But there is an even bigger challenge; towards the construction of content of joint value, collectively and making impact visible.

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.

In campaigning, the problems to solve are rooted in the power balance: who's got it and who hasn’t; who makes the decisions and who is affected by them.

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.

“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.

Russia's war against Ukraine is not only taking place on the battlefields and in besieged cities, but also in the information space. This was true even before the digital age, but war propaganda has reached a new level thanks to the possibilities of the Internet. Fake news, dubious images, videos, untraceable figures, battlefield results, not to mention conspiracy theories explaining the background to the attack.

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.

What are the values ​​that as organizations and communicators we are promoting to build trust with our beneficiaries and our stakeholders? Building relationships of trust requires a high dose of humility, of seeing people and not just what they represent. Trust is earned by hand, not only by sharing timely and truthful information, but also by establishing permanent communication channels beyond the day-to-day news.

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

Save the dates, mark your calendars and get ready to go! These are the five Media Literacy Events you simply cannot miss in 2022!!!

An engaging storytelling ability is crucial to catch the attention of an ever-distracted audience. The best stories share the same essential elements, arranged in a specific order to gradually build tension, that makes us want to find out what happens next. Let’s learn together how to build a powerful story that our audience won't be able to keep their eyes off!

It’s only by learning what really counts for your audience and why it does, that you can really figure out what kind of communication will be in alignment with their needs and values.

In order to identify their behaviour, their beliefs behind it, or the emotional drivers, try out the Mapping Technique.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Major dangers and media manipulation threats in the age of disinformation

Building resilience against disinformation.

Success stories at the grassroot level.

“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

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