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Romanian Journalists to Tackle Disinformation at International Event Organized by Friends For Friends Foundation and ING Bank
The Friends For Friends Foundation, in partnership with ING Bank Romania, will host a significant anti-disinformation event for journalists on November 5 in Bucharest. The “Takeover Disinfo” gathering brings together media experts from Southeast Asia and Europe to equip Romanian journalists with tools to combat information manipulation.
The event comes at a critical time when disinformation has become increasingly prevalent in Romania, particularly highlighted during recent presidential elections. It will take place at Point Hub in Bucharest and feature a diverse roster of international experts sharing their insights.
“Last year’s presidential elections highlighted, more than ever, the dangers of disinformation,” said Alexandra Cantor, executive director of the Friends For Friends Foundation. “Journalists in Romania now have the opportunity to specialise alongside colleagues from abroad, to gain an in-depth understanding of how disinformation mechanisms are formed and how they can be combated.”
The event features prominent speakers including Martin Fornusek, senior editor at The Kyiv Independent from Ukraine; Kuek Ser Kuang Keng, a Malaysian journalist who serves as data editor at the Pulitzer Center; Gernot Wolfram, professor of media and cultural management at Macromedia University Berlin; and Alina Radu, investigative journalist and manager of Ziarul de Gardă from Moldova.
Structured as a full-day program, the event includes three distinct sessions. The morning will feature a panel discussion on “The cultural context and the construction of disinformation narratives,” moderated by Codruța Simina, journalist and author of the Misreport newsletter. This session will explore how cultural contexts facilitate the emergence of disinformation and how different narratives spread through media and social spaces.
The afternoon continues with a masterclass entitled “TakeOver Disinfo in the Big Tech Era,” led by Kuek Ser Kuang Keng. This session will analyze how new technologies and digital platforms both contribute to and combat disinformation, with moderation by Dragoș Stanca, founder of the Ethical Media Alliance.
The day concludes with a limited-capacity workshop on “Fictionalized Politics” led by Professor Gernot Wolfram, addressing how new actors in the public sphere are changing perceptions of reality.
Wolfram expressed concern about the blurring boundaries between reality and political fiction: “The Albanian government announces an AI minister, and Donald Trump claims, despite all the evidence, that climate change is a joke. Public perception is increasingly shifting into a hybrid space, between truth and spectacle. Journalists must learn to navigate these fictionalized worlds.”
The event is offered free of charge to participants, though registration is required. All sessions will be conducted in English, with the workshop limited to 20 participants to ensure meaningful engagement.
This initiative is part of the broader Superscrieri Workshops series, supported by ING Bank, which aims to develop professional skills among journalists in Romania. The Superscrieri Awards Gala, organized annually by the Friends For Friends Foundation, recognizes excellence in Romanian journalism.
Silvia Jalea, Head of Internal & External Corporate Communication at ING Bank Romania, emphasized the importance of supporting quality journalism: “The press remains one of the essential pillars of a functional democracy. Its quality determines the quality of the information we receive, the decisions we make, and ultimately, the society we live in.”
The event addresses growing concerns about disinformation in Romania and globally, offering practical tools and international perspectives to help journalists build resilience against information manipulation. By bringing together experts from regions facing diverse disinformation challenges, “Takeover Disinfo” aims to foster cross-border connections and collaborative journalism projects to combat this increasingly prevalent phenomenon.
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16 Comments
The Takeover Disinfo event in Bucharest is a timely and necessary initiative. Journalists need robust training to identify and counter the spread of false narratives, which can have far-reaching consequences.
I hope the event will also explore the role of social media platforms in the proliferation of disinformation. Collaborative efforts between the media and tech companies could help curb the problem.
This Takeover Disinfo event in Bucharest seems timely and important. Disinformation has become a major challenge, and empowering journalists to recognize and counter it is vital for upholding the truth.
I hope the event is a success and that the participating journalists can take away valuable strategies to apply in their reporting. Combating misinformation requires a multi-faceted approach.
This anti-disinformation event for journalists in Bucharest is a timely and necessary initiative. Disinformation has become a pervasive problem, and equipping the media with the right tools to address it is essential.
I’m interested to learn more about the international experts who will be sharing their insights at the Takeover Disinfo event. Their diverse perspectives and experiences can provide valuable lessons for Romanian journalists.
Bringing together journalists from Southeast Asia and Europe to share their insights on combating disinformation is a smart move. Cross-pollination of ideas and best practices can strengthen the collective fight against misinformation.
It’s encouraging to see the event focused on the dangers of disinformation, particularly in the context of recent elections in Romania. Maintaining public trust in the media is vital for a healthy democracy.
The Takeover Disinfo event in Bucharest is a welcome development in the ongoing battle against the spread of misinformation. Empowering journalists to recognize and counter false narratives is crucial for maintaining public trust.
I hope the event will also explore the role of media literacy in combating disinformation. Educating the public on how to critically evaluate information sources can be a powerful tool in the fight against misinformation.
Excellent initiative to equip Romanian journalists with tools to combat disinformation. Tackling the spread of misinformation is crucial, especially around sensitive political events like elections.
I’m glad to see international media experts coming together to share their insights. Collaborative efforts like this can go a long way in strengthening journalistic integrity.
The Friends For Friends Foundation and ING Bank Romania are to be commended for organizing this anti-disinformation event for journalists. Equipping the media with the right tools is key to addressing the spread of false narratives.
I’m curious to learn more about the specific strategies and techniques that will be covered at the Takeover Disinfo event. Effective fact-checking and source verification methods will be crucial.
Kudos to the organizers for bringing together such a diverse group of media experts to address the issue of disinformation in Romania. Building international partnerships can strengthen the fight against misinformation.
It’s encouraging to see the event focusing on practical tools and techniques that journalists can apply in their reporting. Hands-on training is key to equipping the media with the necessary skills.