How To Combat Disinformation: 3-Month Training Programme For Odisha Journalists

Bhubaneswar: A three-month training programme for journalists of Odisha, aimed to counter disinformation, was launched here on Wednesday.

Organised by the US Consulate General Hyderabad, in collaboration with Osmania University Hyderabad and Odisha Women in Media (OWM), the programme will enhance fact-checking skills of journalists.

Police Commissioner Sanjeeb Panda, who was the chief guest, spoke on the challenges posed by social media platforms and WhatsApp in the spread of misinformation and disinformation.

Providing examples to illustrate how factual distortions can mislead the public, Panda emphasised the importance of truth and accuracy in combating such issues. He suggested effective strategies be put in place to tackle misinformation from a law-enforcement perspective.

Project coordinator Prof. Stevenson Korah and resource person Dr Rajeev Panda stressed on the importance of specialised training for journalists to effectively counter disinformation.

They highlighted the programme’s focus on equipping journalists with advanced tools and techniques to identify and address false information.

Forty journalists and media professionals, along with students from various educational institutions, have enrolled in the programme.

The training curriculum is designed to provide hands-on practical experience and empower participants with skills needed to navigate complexities of modern information landscape.

The initiative will enhance the capacity of Odia journalists to uphold the integrity of information in their reporting, thereby serving a more informed and discerning public.