About the Conference
On September 20-22 2023, the Media Development Foundation (MDF) in partnership with the Deutsche Welle Akademie (DWA) and the USAID Unity Through Diversity Program, implemented by the United Nations Association of Georgia (UNA Georgia) is hosting the "Unveil the Truth: Eastern Partnership Fact-Checkers Conference". This international event will bring together prominent fact-checking organizations, renowned experts, and key stakeholders from various countries to shed light on combatting harmful information and promoting media literacy in the region.
The conference, which will be held at Courtyard Marriott Tbilisi aims to strengthen the fight against mis- and disinformation, empowering citizens with the tools to critically evaluate information in an era of increasing digital deception. This event will play a pivotal role in fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among fact-checkers and journalists from different countries.
Highlighting the conference's program are distinguished keynote speakers from leading organizations in the fight against misinformation:
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Jessikka Aro - Renowned Finnish Journalist and author of the highly acclaimed book, "Putin's Trolls", translated into Georgian by MDF. Aro's presentation will shed light on the deceptive tactics employed by online trolls to manipulate public opinion.
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Sophie Eyears - Facebook & Instagram's Misinfo Initiatives & Third Party Fact-Checking Programme for Europe. Eyears will discuss Meta's policy to combat harmful information on social media platforms and the importance of fact-checking in today's digital landscape.
Throughout the three-day event, experts and panellists will delve into crucial topics, including fact-checking in war times, watchdogging democracy by fact-checking politicians and researching discrediting campaigns, gender disinformation, media literacy promotion, and ethical fact-checking practices.
The conference will also feature breakout sessions where participants can engage in in-depth discussions on various fact-checking methodologies, such as OSINT (Open Source Intelligence), geolocation, forensic analysis, and visual manipulation.
A significant focus of the event will be on engaging youth in fact-checking activities, with a panel discussion sharing success stories of Myth Detector Alumni who have made a remarkable impact in countering misinformation among their peers.
The conference will conclude with a session dedicated to showcasing various innovative media literacy projects that aim to combat misinformation. Attendees will be able to explore online games and other creative initiatives developed by the Media Development Foundation and its partners.
The event is supported by the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (Germany) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Contact
For media inquiries and press registration, please contact: Mariam Akhalkatsi (MDF Communications Manager) at mariama@mdfgeorgia.ge
About DWA:
DW Akademie is Deutsche Welle's center for international media development, journalism training and knowledge transfer. DWA projects strengthen the human right to freedom of expression and unhindered access to information. DW Akademie empowers people worldwide to make independent decisions based on reliable facts and constructive dialogue.
About UNAG:
United Nations Association of Georgia (UNA Georgia) is a local nonprofit that has worked since 1995 to encourage, support, and safeguard the democratic aspirations of the people of Georgia. UNAG works to protect human rights, promote freedom of speech, advance good governance, and stimulate meaningful national discussions through encouraging citizen participation in the processes and decisions that affect their lives.
About MDF:
Media Development Foundation (MDF) is a leading Georgian NGO in media monitoring, research, and communication, specializing in detecting and verifying fake media content. With its well-established media literacy programs and experienced fact-checkers, MDF aims to promote critical thinking in media consumers and to raise awareness of the importance of fighting fake news.
About Myth Detector:
MDF launched its fact-checking and myth-debunking platform – Myth Detector – in 2014, to uncover the truth behind the lies, explore hidden agendas, raise the level of media literacy, and inform both people and institutions of Georgia about the impacts of disinformation. Myth Detector is a verified signatory of the European Fact-checking Standards Network (EFSCN) and the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN). Additionally, In the framework of Meta’s Third-Party Fact-Checking Program reviews and rates the accuracy of content aiming to improve the quality and authenticity of stories in the Facebook News Feed.