FIFAfrica: How youth are fighting misinformation and disinformation in Africa

Leipzig is opening its doors to journalists at risk! ⁠ ⁠ Last week, during the 10th anniversary of the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the city of Leipzig was officially launched as a Shelter City – reinforcing its long-standing commitment to supporting journalists at risk.⁠ ⁠ For over a decade, ECPMF has been standing up for press freedom across Europe, providing temporary safety, accommodation, psychosocial support, and a space for journalists to continue their important work. By joining our global Shelter City network, with the support of the local government, Leipzig is taking a step towards greater solidarity and a world in which journalists can work freely and safely.⁠ ⁠ “It’s about showing we are not alone, we are in this together. The more organizations involved, the stronger we are”, notes Alina Toropova, Programme Manager at ECPMF.⁠ ⁠ We thank everyone at Shelter City Leipzig and ECPMF for their tireless dedication to press freedom and human rights defenders across the world.⁠ Find what this new partnership means for the network and for human rights protection via https://lnkd.in/dGTJKqJR #sheltercitynetwork #journalistsatrisk #sidebyside #humanrightsdefenders

Local news is essential to civic health. When communities lose trusted local journalism, residents disengage, misinformation spreads, and democratic participation declines. But local governments can help strengthen this civic infrastructure. This Governing article by Jabari Simama highlights concrete steps public officials can take to support local media ecosystems, from information-sharing partnerships to innovative funding models. Read more: https://ow.ly/ReiJ50XcoTw #CivicHealth #LocalNews #Democracy #CivicEngagement #PublicTrust #InformationEcosystem #NationalCivicLeague

Ethnic and Indigenous newsrooms are on the frontlines in the fight against disinformation. A new ICFJ report found these outlets are uniquely equipped to counter false narratives—leveraging deep community trust to share accurate information, engage directly, and strengthen resilience. This is exactly the kind of community media The Pivot Fund champions. Outlets like Underscore Native News and Little Earth Residents 411 are powerful examples of Indigenous journalism defending truth and building trust where it matters most. Read the report: https://shorturl.at/RawFl 📸Jarrette Werk, Underscore Native News

For many women journalists in Africa, online trolls flood timelines with insults, threats, and hate ; not to challenge ideas, but to silence voices. This constant harassment pushes some off platforms, damages mental health, and erodes press freedom. Journalism thrives on free expression. Trolling thrives on intimidation. The difference? One empowers democracy, the other destroys it. That’s why the IAWRT Monitoring & Reporting Platform, supported by UNESCO, is here: to document trolling and other forms of online violence, so they are no longer invisible but evidence for action. 📍 Report cases today: https://lnkd.in/dBcRp56F Pan African Lawyers Union (Official) JOSEPHINE KARANI Racheal Nakitare

New publication: 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (Societies, 2025). We examine how digital tools influence civic engagement and Democratic governance. Based on a systematic review of 46 studies (1999–2024), it highlights both opportunities and risks — from improved transparency and participation to polarization and surveillance. The conclusion is clear: ICT can strengthen democracy only when it is regulated, inclusive, and ethically designed. 📄 DOI: https://lnkd.in/dsiky8td

The global nonprofit WITNESS seeks to address one of the biggest data gaps in the digital verification landscape: the dependence on tools-based methods that lack local knowledge. https://twp.ai/E6CfYd

The global nonprofit WITNESS seeks to address one of the biggest data gaps in the digital verification landscape: the dependence on tools-based methods that lack local knowledge. https://twp.ai/E6CCbS

Misinformation has evolved far beyond simple fake news. Today's digital deception includes AI-generated content, deepfakes and coordinated inauthentic behaviour that's harder than ever to detect. The Canadian Journalism Foundation, in partnership with MediaSmarts | HabiloMédias, presents a free Media Literacy Week J-Talks event. Join renowned digital media expert Craig Silverman as he maps this new landscape of digital deception and reveals practical defence strategies for journalists and citizens. Discover how modern verification tools like Indicator fit into today's newsroom toolkit and learn investigative techniques to separate authentic content from sophisticated fakes. The evening features an in-depth conversation with Carolyn Jarvis exploring Silverman's frontline experience tracking misinformation campaigns and his vision for building more resilient information ecosystems. Whether you're a journalist, media professional, or engaged citizen, this event will equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate our increasingly complex digital world. Date: October 29, 6:30 p.m. ET Venue: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, 506 Bloor Street West, Toronto Secure your ticket for FREE: https://lnkd.in/gbwjsaZA In partnership with the Canadian Commission for UNESCO | J-Talks Sponsor: TD| In-Kind Support: Cision Canada | Broadcast partner: CPAC (Cable Public Affairs Channel / Chaîne d'affaires publiques par câble) #CJFJTalks #JournalismMatters #JournalismEvent

📰 Media freedom, the safety of journalists, and strategies to address disinformation and strengthen information integrity were among the key issues discussed last week at the OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference. 🗣️ The Office of the RFoM organized five side events in co-operation with selected participating States. These focused on specific aspects of media freedom, including attacks against women journalists, strategies to address disinformation, support mechanisms for journalists in exile, and the relationship between media and police. 💬 “Ministerial Council Decision 3/18 represents an important acknowledgement by participating States that independent, critical, public interest journalism cannot exist if journalists fear retaliation for their work,” Representative Braathu noted. 🔗 Press release 👇 https://lnkd.in/dE3pvn4X