How can a well-written press article help to develop the profile of your organization? How can you ensure that your organization's message really gets across? Orsolya Hering, communications and PR consultant, answers these questions in her article.

Engaged citizens, communities organized into Civil Society Organizations, and watchdogs are often the first line of defense against autocratic and populist tendencies. Holding politicians accountable, exposing their machinations, protecting vulnerable and under-represented communities, and fighting for justice and equality. Yet instead of public praise, they are increasingly becoming the prime target for propaganda machines fueled by politicians and unscrupulous actors. They are called "foreign agents", "traitors of the nation", "mercenaries", "Soros puppets", etc. Online smear campaigns and name-calling quickly escalate into calls for violence, administrative harassment, or even physical attacks.

It does not take a media expert to realize that disinformation is always one step away from becoming a hate campaign. Cherry-picked or distorted data and biased interpretations, and sheer lies are but a means to an end – manufacturing larger narratives with clear-cut divisions between good and evil, us and them.

A third article in the series about the data-based communication. This time we are discussing the tools the organizations may use.

If you're not actively involved in database building, we'll show you how to get started, what to look out for and what tools are available.

In Makaia, we work to strengthen social development capabilities based on technology, cooperation, and innovation. With the Digital Resilience project, which is based on the Hive Mind platform, and is part of TechSoup's Digital Activism Program, we seek to create and share tools, knowledge, and good habits in the digital sphere to counteract disinformation in the Latin American region.

Let’s come together to learn on how to strengthen young people in being more resilient (online and offline) and improve their (as well as our own) wellbeing in the times of widespread disinformation, limited attention span and general information noise.