ICFJ Launches Disarming Disinformation Training Initiative in the Americas
The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) is spearheading a crucial initiative to combat the pervasive threat of disinformation in the Americas. As part of their three-year global project, Disarming Disinformation, generously funded by the Scripps Howard Fund, ICFJ is offering a unique "training of trainers" opportunity for individuals across the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. This program empowers participants to become local champions against disinformation by equipping them with the skills and resources to design and deliver their own community workshops.
This initiative kicks off with a comprehensive two-day online course presented by The Poynter Institute’s MediaWise, scheduled for July 17th and 18th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time. The course will be conducted in English, with simultaneous Spanish and Portuguese translations ensuring accessibility for a diverse range of participants. Crucially, attendance at this online course is mandatory for those seeking further involvement in the program. Following the online training, ten exceptional applicants will be selected for an all-expenses-paid in-person training in Buenos Aires and awarded a $4,000 grant to implement their own community workshops. Individuals interested solely in the online training can indicate this preference on their application.
The application process is open until July 14th at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. While not exclusively for journalists, the ideal candidate possesses prior experience grappling with disinformation and demonstrates the credibility necessary to foster trust within their communities. The online course curriculum covers a broad spectrum of vital topics, including news literacy, media and information literacy, identifying various types of misinformation and disinformation, and effective fact-checking techniques. This comprehensive training serves as a foundation for participants to develop engaging and impactful workshops.
The ten selected grantees will be announced in early August and invited to participate in an intensive in-person "training of trainers" session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from August 26th to 28th. This immersive training will be facilitated by MediaWise, in collaboration with Chequeado, a renowned Argentinian fact-checking organization. As an added benefit, participants will have the opportunity to extend their stay in Buenos Aires to attend Media Party, a prominent journalism conference in the region, scheduled for August 29th to 31st.
Upon completing the in-person training, grantees will return to their respective communities armed with the knowledge and resources to develop and execute their own workshops. Each grantee is expected to train at least 100 individuals before the end of April 2025. This commitment ensures the program’s impact reaches a wide audience, empowering communities to critically evaluate information and resist the spread of disinformation.
Prospective applicants seeking the grant must fulfill specific requirements, including attending both the initial online training and the in-person session in Buenos Aires. They must also commit to designing and implementing their training programs within the specified timeframe. While prior knowledge of disinformation issues is essential, being a journalist is not a prerequisite. However, successful applicants should hold a position of trust within their communities to effectively engage with and influence their trainees.
The ICFJ encourages applications targeting diverse audiences beyond journalists and journalism students. Previous successful applicants have engaged with nurses, doctors, refugees, homemakers, indigenous groups, and various other community members. This broad approach underscores the program’s commitment to reaching a wide cross-section of society, fostering critical thinking skills, and building resilience against disinformation across diverse communities.
This initiative emphasizes empowering communities to become active participants in the fight against disinformation. By equipping individuals with the skills and resources to conduct their own workshops, the ICFJ aims to create a ripple effect, fostering a more informed and resilient information ecosystem throughout the Americas. The Disarming Disinformation project represents a significant step towards building a more informed and empowered citizenry in the digital age. This program’s focus on training the trainers ensures a sustainable and scalable approach to combating the spread of disinformation and promoting media literacy across diverse communities.