Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Beyond 'fake news' 2020: Conference highlights

An overview of the Beyond 'fake news' and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Academy Fusion event held at the Media Cafe, NBH on 4 February 2020.

Published: 4 February 2020
Beyond Fake News 2020 conference highlights

In this short film our contributors expressed exactly how the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ had been combating the proliferation of disinformation and what future developments are taking place in the battle against fake news.

Here are the key takeaways:

  • Call on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ expertise: Whether in ; TrendingReality CheckUGC or Africa Eye, there are investigative journalists who can help assess fake tweets or videos using verification tools, extensive background knowledge and language skills.
  • Monitor conversations on social: To explore public opinion and debates at the grassroots; investigate closed groups eg on Facebook and meet and talk to the people in them. Don’t assume there are plots or foreign bots when it may be individuals having a laugh.  
  • Push out the correct story: Millions will see and share false posts and maybe only hundreds of thousands will see the correction on Twitter. So do as much as possible to make the true story visible on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ outlets and on search engines like Google.
  • Build trust in Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ journalism: Show that Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ journalists are human trying to get things right. The podcast Brexitcast is a good example of how audiences were invited in to find out how correspondents evaluate and wrestle with conflicting information.
  • Beware fake branding: Make sure all your digital content has the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ brand. Work is ongoing to develop a digital fingerprint to prove provenance as well as methods of stopping others usurping the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ brand to bolster their own fake postings.