# Disinformation - Media support (June '21) ![](https://1400954439-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MMufMUvuw1XZB7k8wBn%2F-MbfMiaGaq_23R2R4tPv%2F-MbfMycuGBYSQMf6LnpF%2FScreenshot%202021-06-08%20at%2013.26.12.png?alt=media\&token=cd6fdf9a-f53f-41b9-995d-3f2cc93c75f2) ## Journalism support and media development in the context of mis/disinformation On 17th June 2021 [GFMD](https://gfmd.info/)'s [International Media Policy and Advisory Centre](https://impact.gfmd.info/master) hosted a meeting of 54 media development donors, practitioners and academics to discuss effective responses to disinformation. Disinformation was chosen after it was selected as a priority in a survey of those engaged with GFMD IMPACT's activities, as well as in previous [consultations](https://impact.gfmd.info/background/consultation) with media development actors. The meeting was co-convened by * [United States Agency for International Development (USAID)](https://www.usaid.gov/) * [Media Sector Development Working Group of The International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR)](https://iamcr.org/s-wg/working-group/msd) The full agenda for the meeting is [available here](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/agenda): {% content-ref url="disinformation/agenda" %} [agenda](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/agenda) {% endcontent-ref %} ## MEETING REPORT The meeting report summarises the presentations and discussions that took place in the breakout groups and main session. ## Main takeaways {% hint style="success" %} Ideas put forward on how to make [media development responses more effective](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/effectiveness-mediadev-responses-disinformation#effectiveness-of-media-development-responses) included: * The need for [coordination and coalition building](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/effectiveness-mediadev-responses-disinformation#docs-internal-guid-5c7368d1-7fff-e84b-197f-268011db67b6) * Emphasizing the *“do no harm”* principle * [Reframing the discussion](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/disinformation/effectiveness-mediadev-responses-disinformation#reframing-the-discussion-on-disinformation-to-focus-resources-on-support-for-journalism) on disinformation to focus resources on support for journalism * How to effectively make the case for [journalism support](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/disinformation/effectiveness-mediadev-responses-disinformation#how-to-make-the-case-for-journalism-support) {% endhint %} {% hint style="warning" %} Language barriers and sustainability were identified as challenges for [**fact-checking** ](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/identification-responses#fact-checking)programmes. {% endhint %} {% hint style="success" %} Fact-checking services [adopting critical **media literacy** approaches](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/supporting-target-audiences#fact-checking-and-media-literacy) was among many suggestions on how to more effectively engage vulnerable/polarised communities. {% endhint %} {% hint style="success" %} **Research and researchers** on disinformation need to be [broader and more diverse](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/disinformation/identification-responses#diversity-and-representation). Creative solutions were proposed for improving [data & information sharing](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/disinformation/identification-responses#data-and-information-sharing). More research is needed on ["production" ](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/disinformation/identification-responses#effects-v-production)disinformation. {% endhint %} {% hint style="success" %} **Support to journalism** must address: * The fact that newsrooms and journalists themselves can be o[bstacles to building resilience in societies](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/producers-distributors#support-to-journalism). * [Polarization](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/producers-distributors#docs-internal-guid-f05a6877-7fff-3225-21e8-75664d4d54c0) within journalism {% endhint %} {% hint style="success" %} A working paper on [**measuring and evaluating disinformation programmes**](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/evaluating-counter-disinformation-programmes) identified[ five key challenges](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/evaluating-counter-disinformation-programmes#5-key-challenges-to-measuring-and-evaluating-countering-disinformation-programmes) for evaluators and argues for [building a community of practice](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/evaluating-counter-disinformation-programmes#1-build-a-community-of-practice-around-countering-disinformation) around countering disinformation; carrying out a [comparative, impact study](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/evaluating-counter-disinformation-programmes#2-impact-evaluation-study); creating a [diagnostic tool](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/evaluating-counter-disinformation-programmes#3-countering-disinformation-diagnostic-tool-for-program-design) for program design. {% endhint %} ## Typology Due to the cross-cutting nature of the discussions, the report presents that findings and insights from the meeting using the typology of responses to disinformation identified in [Balancing Act: Countering Digital Disinformation While Respecting Freedom of Expression - Bontcheva & Posetti (2020)](https://www.broadbandcommission.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/WGFoEDisinfo_Report2020.pdf) as a guide. One of the report's authors - [Kalina Bontcheva](https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/dcs/people/academic/kalina-bontcheva) - prepared a presentation for the meeting about the typology of responses to disinformation. ![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/5obAgFnxb-809SbcYUflzIB-Vz-6HZRmYVg8iLGUyadSciHPFgEwsFj-TKwHEWlxjYz71niHACw2VvzodpY2WyHkhTXh1HvtdJ7khnrlVYyJWZHw_2fZ_Cj9b4NFtEDUKMyD7hTe) The full presentation can be downloaded from the link below: {% file src="" %} Overview of Balancing Act Typology and Recommendations {% endfile %} This presentation has also been used to summarise and define responses throughout the meeting report. See text labelled *(Source:* [*Bontcheva*](#typology)*).* {% hint style="success" %} Click on the links below to navigate the sections you are interested in reading: {% endhint %} ## [Introduction](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/effectiveness-mediadev-responses-disinformation) Quotes, insights and suggestions on how to improve the overall effectiveness of the media development responses to disinformation. {% content-ref url="disinformation/effectiveness-mediadev-responses-disinformation" %} [effectiveness-mediadev-responses-disinformation](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/effectiveness-mediadev-responses-disinformation) {% endcontent-ref %} ## [1. Identification responses](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/identification-responses) {% content-ref url="disinformation/identification-responses" %} [identification-responses](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/identification-responses) {% endcontent-ref %} * [Monitoring and fact-checking](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/identification-responses#monitoring-and-fact-checking) * [Research on disinformation ](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/identification-responses#docs-internal-guid-0f60f5f6-7fff-2c86-7fa3-aae81c62a031) * [Investigative responses](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/identification-responses#investigative-responses) ## [2. Responses aimed at producers and distributors ](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/producers-distributors) {% content-ref url="disinformation/producers-distributors" %} [producers-distributors](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/producers-distributors) {% endcontent-ref %} * [Support to journalism](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/producers-distributors#support-to-journalism) * [COVID-19 specific responses](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/producers-distributors#covid-19-specific-responses) * [National and international counter-disinformation campaigns (constructing counter-narratives)](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/producers-distributors#national-and-international-counter-disinformation-campaigns-constructing-counter-narratives) ## [3. Impacting production and distribution mechanisms ](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/production-distribution-mechanisms) {% content-ref url="disinformation/production-distribution-mechanisms" %} [production-distribution-mechanisms](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/production-distribution-mechanisms) {% endcontent-ref %} {% hint style="info" %} Curatorial responses; technical/algorithmic responses; and demonetisation responses will be discussed at future GFMD IMPACT meetings. {% endhint %} ## [4. Supporting the target audiences of disinformation campaigns ](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/supporting-target-audiences) {% content-ref url="disinformation/supporting-target-audiences" %} [supporting-target-audiences](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/supporting-target-audiences) {% endcontent-ref %} This section focuses on educational responses[*"aimed at improving citizens' media literacy and promoting critical thinking and verification in the context of online information consumption, as well as journalist training and tools aimed at helping journalists with fact-checking, verification, and debunking."*](#typology) *(Source:* [*Bontcheva*](#typology)*)* ## [5. Evaluating counter-disinformation programmes](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/evaluating-counter-disinformation-programmes) The final section of the meeting report covers discussion and insights emanating the presentation of a draft working paper on the [challenges of evaluating countering disinformation programs](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/evaluating-counter-disinformation-programmes) produced for the meeting by Susan Abbott and Katerina Tsetsura: {% content-ref url="disinformation/evaluating-counter-disinformation-programmes" %} [evaluating-counter-disinformation-programmes](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/evaluating-counter-disinformation-programmes) {% endcontent-ref %} ## [6. Research on disinformation](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/research) {% content-ref url="disinformation/research" %} [research](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/research) {% endcontent-ref %} ## [LITERATURE REVIEW](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/literature-review) {% hint style="info" %} A [literature review](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/literature-review) of resources related to how media development and wider policy initiatives can address disinformation is available [here](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/literature-review). {% endhint %} {% content-ref url="disinformation/literature-review" %} [literature-review](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/literature-review) {% endcontent-ref %} ## ATTENDANCE\* | MediaDev practitioners | Donors & funders | Academics & researchers | Media regulators | | ---------------------- | ---------------- | ----------------------- | ---------------- | | 22 | 16 | 15 | 1 | | Male | Female | | ---- | ------ | | 29 | 25 | | "Global North" | "Global South" | | -------------- | -------------- | | 38 | 16 | *\* not including members of the GFMD secretariat* ## [FEEDBACK](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/feedback) If you are interested in reading feedback those who attended the meeting see: {% content-ref url="disinformation/feedback" %} [feedback](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/2021/disinformation/feedback) {% endcontent-ref %} ## NAVIGATION Find what you are looking for by using: {% hint style="success" %} The left-hand side navigation options to choose between the report's sections. {% endhint %} {% hint style="success" %} The right-hand side "CONTENTS" navigation to find subsections on each page. {% endhint %} {% hint style="success" %} The search functionality at the top of each page. {% endhint %}