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JOURNALISTS AND WRITERS FOUNDATION

MEDIA AND JOURNALISM WEBINARS 2024

Session 2: Training: Ensuring Trust on Media in the Age of Misinformation / Disinformation

29 May 2024 | Wednesday | 10am - 11:30am (EST)

Media and Journalism Webinars emphasize experiential and hands-on learning through intensive training and interactive discussions with professional journalists for field experience. This program aims to prepare journalism students and young professionals to succeed in their professional careers while fostering experiential learning by translating knowledge and skills into experience. Your active and meaningful participation with questions and reflections will make the discussion more productive.

In this training session, participants learned about the following topics from our trainer Heidi Basch-Harod, Executive Director of Women’s Voices Now.

  • Combatting the waves of disinformation/misinformation online 
  • Rebuilding trust on information sources in the revolutionized digital age
  • How to respond to the information pollution in 2024: historical year of elections
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Training: Ensuring Trust on Media in the Age of Misinformation / Disinformation Session 2

Trainer: Heidi Basch-Harod

Executive Director of Women’s Voices Now

Summary & Highlights:

Session 2 of the Media and Journalism Webinars was conducted by Heidi Basch-Harod, the Executive Director of Women’s Voices Now, a non-profit media organization based in California. Heidi Basch-Harod, emphasized the transformative potential of individuals acting with integrity, frames her discussion within the critical realm of truth-telling. She invites participants to delve beyond Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ principles and scholarly insights on misinformation, urging them to tap into their own intelligence to discern truth from falsehood.

The session unfolds with an interactive format, prioritizing self-reflection among attendees. Despite technical glitches with the presentation, Ms. Basch-Harod navigated through the challenges, emphasizing the importance of patience and maintaining engagement. She highlighted participants’ diverse backgrounds and expertise, setting the stage for a nuanced exploration of media’s evolving role in society.

Heidi Basch-Harod introduced her work focused on using film to drive social change and advance women’s rights, underscoring the power of storytelling in influencing cultural norms and catalyzing community-driven transformations. Her emphasis on documentary filmmaking underscores a commitment to uncovering overlooked truths and amplifying marginalized voices.

Throughout the session, Ms. Basch-Harod probes deep into foundational concepts such as democracy, freedom of the press, and journalistic responsibility. She challenged participants to critically evaluate the intersection of democratic principles with media practices globally, acknowledging the uneven landscape of press freedom and the pervasive threats faced by journalists worldwide.

Participants engaged in robust dialogue around the complexities of modern journalism, exploring diverse forms such as advocacy journalism and content creation. They confront the inherent challenges of achieving objectivity amidst personal biases, underscoring the necessity for transparency to uphold credibility and trust.

The impact of digital platforms and social media emerges as a recurring theme, reshaping how news is disseminated and consumed. Discussions traversed global perspectives, from the suppression of media freedoms in non-democratic regimes to the varying roles of media in democratic societies like the UK and Denmark.

Ethical considerations remained paramount throughout the dialogue, with a consensus on the importance of maintaining journalistic integrity amid corporate and political pressures. Participants advocated for the media’s role in fostering informed, engaged communities while grappling with the erosion of public trust exacerbated by perceived biases and agendas.

Heidi Basch-Harod concluded the session with a call to action, urging journalists to reflect on their motivations and societal impact. She challenged them to embrace their roles as catalysts for change, promoting democracy through open debate, diverse perspectives, and the pursuit of truth in all its complexities.

Overall, Heidi Basch-Harod’s session resonated deeply with the profound responsibilities entrusted to journalists in today’s interconnected world. By navigating through challenges with resilience and fostering critical dialogue, she inspired a collective commitment to upholding democratic values and restoring public trust in the media. 

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