Disarming Disinformation

Disinformation is a rampant problem and can have terrible, even deadly, consequences. It’s time to turn the page, to support and amplify innovative strategies that can combat dangerous falsehoods. It's time to identify and reveal the networks behind viral pieces of false content, and to make sure the next generation is prepared to separate fact from fiction.

Disarming Disinformation is ICFJ's largest program addressing the information disorder we live in. It is a three-year global program supported by the Scripps Howard Foundation. Between 2022 and 2025, the program will invest $3.8 million on solutions that effectively push back against disinformation.

The program has a multidisciplinary approach, designed to engage journalists and journalism students but also teachers, researchers, social media strategists, digital influencers, developers and others who have been fighting mis/disinformation across the globe. It does so through many initiatives, such as in-person and online trainings, grants, project mentorship, in-depth research, newsroom embedment and a slew of resources, such as how-to guides.

Disarming Disinformation is streamlined into three tracks: Investigative, Capacity Building and Research.

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Investigative

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Capacity Building

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Research

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An Academic's Media Literacy Journey from India to Oman

October 28, 2024

In 2018, Dr. Tamilselvi Natarajan came across a video depicting a child kidnapping, which spread widely on WhatsApp in India. In reality, however, the video was actually a public service announcement — not an actual kidnapping. The incident inspired the media educator to pursue training in fact-checking. Through an ICFJ and MediaWise program, she connected with advanced tools to continue to educate students about mis- and disinformation.

A photo of Zulfa Amira Zaed presenting to a room of people sitting on rugs.

How One Journalist Reached Remote Indonesian Indigenous Communities with Media Literacy

October 24, 2024

As Indonesia’s urban centers develop, Zulfa Amira Zaed carries a weight of concern for her fellow Indonesians who live in remote forest regions. But helping these communities navigate the challenges of disinformation proved difficult for Amira Zaed in the past, as she did not have the means to reach remote areas nor the resources to teach them. Through ICFJ training, she was able to improve her own media literacy and share her findings with her neighbors.

A photo of a group of students and instructors posing and smiling..

Meeting Students Where They Are: Tips to Increase Media Literacy Among School Students in The Gambia

October 23, 2024

For three years, Mariama Danso and her organization, Fact Check Center - The Gambia, have promoted media literacy among young adults to combat mis- and disinformation in the Banjul region of The Gambia. Through ICFJ's media literacy training of trainers, she learned new strategies to reach diverse audiences.

Sri Lankan Youth Take On Media Literacy Ambassador Roles Following Workshops

October 22, 2024

As a peacebuilder in Sri Lanka, Arzath Areeff has witnessed an alarming rise in hate speech and conflict in his country’s digital space. He co-founded the platform digizen in 2017 to support digital peacebuilding and promote media literacy. With support and training from ICFJ, Areeff has continued his trainings in underserved communities in his country.