DCN SEE Hub, Digital Communication Network and World Learning are organizing, via Zoom, the webinar “Unlocking the truth with digital literacy”, which will take place in the 6th of October at 20:00 (Athens Time).
Africa, like all continents, is profoundly impacted by modern communication technologies. The information space is being reshaped, presenting both tremendous opportunities for the democratization of communication but also challenges materialized in disinformation and other malign forms of influencing. While media outlets attempt to keep up with technological advancements and trends, fact-checking alone is not sufficient to combat disinformation. The filters of information, such as social media platforms and other influencers, also play a role in shaping today’s media landscape.
The capacity of the population to process information, apply critical thinking, and make an educated assessment is the most important variable in preventing malign influence in the information space. Without this, no amount of fact checking will be able to keep up with the flood of disinformation. The need for primarily—but not only—young people in Africa to take an active interest in media and information technology and to develop a keen understanding of its impact on their lives is the motivation for this webinar.
This webinar will introduce the Digital Communication Network Africa, a coalition of digital influencers from a variety of professional fields working together to put digital information technologies to good use.
Tuesday, October 6 1:00 pm -2:30 pm Washington, DC time.
Speakers:
- Joan Chirwa, Founder and Coordinator, Free Press Initiative, Zambia
- Dr. Sam Kamau, Lecturer, Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communication, Kenya
- Prossy Sheila Kawala, Director for Media Initiatives, Center for Media Literacy and Community Development, Uganda
- Amanda Strydom, Program Manager, Senior Program Manager: CivicSignal and Engagement, Code for Africa. South Africa
Moderators:
- Nikos Panagiotou, Associate Professor, School of Journalism and Mass Media Communication, Aristotle University, Digital Communication Network Global, Greece
- Aurra Kawanzaruwa, Director, Africa is Digital