As part of the project Fact-checked: journalists and activists against lies and propaganda, funded by the Czech Foreign Ministry and implemented in partnership with Serbian organization CRTA and their fact-checking outlet Istinomer, a series of online educational activities targeting journalists, students, activists, and election observers were organised in December with a view to promoting media literacy and countering disinformation. The training gatherings were held in conjunction with the 16th anniversary of Istinomer.
An online webinar titled “Digital Literacy: Skills for Identifying Manipulation and AI-Generated Content” was organized on December 16 and 18 for journalists, journalism students, and students of other faculties engaged in activism. It was hosted by Lazar Čovs, a journalist, fact-checker, and digital forensic expert with professional experience at the weekly Vreme, the Fake News Tragač portal, and the BBC World Service, as well as extensive experience as a trainer in digital forensics and media literacy at the Novi Sad School of Journalism, the Deutsche Welle Akademie, and the BBC Academy.
After participants were introduced to a range of tools and techniques that can assist in assessing whether online content is authentic, they engaged in group work, applying these tools in practice and independently attempting to verify content and reach conclusions. The emphasis was placed on the thought process behind verification, including critical thinking, searching, and contextual analysis, aimed at demystifying digital investigations and demonstrating that, while specific knowledge, practice, and experience are required for advanced analysis, an initial verification process is accessible to any journalist or activist.
The webinar was attended by approximately 15 participants from diverse professional and academic backgrounds, including representatives of a news agency, local media outlets, university professors, a linguist specializing in language-based manipulation, and students of philosophy and other disciplines. According to participant feedback, the workshop was informative, engaging, and well-structured, with a motivating and interactive atmosphere. Several participants expressed strong interest in following future activities and applying for additional, longer-format training events.
In addition to journalist training, Istinomer organized two online workshops for CRTA’s election observers on December 16 and 17, titled “Lies, Spin, and Violence: How to Counter Manipulation During Elections.” The sessions were led by Milena Popović, Istinomer’s Editor-in-Chief, and Milijana Rogač, Executive Editor, both of whom have extensive experience in election observation alongside their journalistic and fact-checking backgrounds. Each workshop gathered 15 participants and focused on Istinomer’s methodologies for fact-checking and verifying the accuracy of political statements, particularly in the context of monitoring electoral processes. Through practical case studies, participants were introduced to common manipulative narratives and spin tactics observed in previous election cycles. The workshops revisited techniques used to mislead the public, enabling participants to better recognize and understand such strategies. High levels of engagement and active participation throughout the discussions, as well as feedback from participant evaluations, indicated the relevance and timeliness of the topics.
Through these activities, Istinomer continued to support journalists and civic actors by strengthening their capacities to recognize manipulation, counter disinformation, and safeguard the integrity of public discourse.