PRCA Café: Local News and Misinformation

Facebook won’t save us – but Hell’s Angels might

Rumours, lies and propaganda are as old as time. But now they spread at lightning speed across continents and wreak untold havoc – fanning conflicts, sowing mistrust and devastating lives. Social media companies are often blamed for fuelling this problem and we look to those same companies for the solutions. But what if we’re looking in the wrong place? More than 90 percent of Facebook’s user base are outside the United States, yet most rules are set by the company based on US experiences. 

Internews has decades of experience working with local communities dealing with the after effects of policies set by corporations headquartered thousands of miles away. We know what works best in countering rumours and disinformation: listening to local communities and supporting trusted local partners to counter them.

At this session, you’ll hear from Internews Chief Executive Jodie Ginsberg about how working with the motorbiking community in the Democratic Republic of Congo, women’s rights groups in Ecuador, and grannies in the Philippines can help tackle misinformation and save lives. She’ll draw on Internews’ experience of working in more than 100 countries and in dealing with crises such as the Ebola and Covid pandemics, the financial collapse of the media sector, and many years spent arm-wrestling with some of the world’s largest tech companies. 

About Jodie 

Jodie Ginsberg is a journalist and activist. She is a recognised expert on media freedom and freedom of expression issues and a passionate believer in the importance of good arguments and great heels.

About Internews

Internews is a non-profit that supports independent media in 100 countries — from radio stations in refugee camps, to hyper-local news outlets, to filmmakers and technologists. Internews trains journalists and digital rights activists, tackles disinformation, and offers business expertise to help media outlets thrive financially. For nearly 40 years, it has helped partners reach millions of people with trustworthy information that saves lives, improves livelihoods, and holds institutions accountable. 

Zoom links will be sent out to all attendees 24 hours prior to the event start time. If you sign up after this time, please contact Michael.collins@prca.org.uk  for the link.