AEJ-Bulgaria to hold international conference and journalistic trainings on fake news

The Association of European Journalists – Bulgaria (AEJ-Bulgaria) is organizing a series of events centered on the phenomenon of fake news and the practices for countering disinformation in Bulgaria and across Europe.
The initiative, titled Europe vs Disinformation: Is the Bendy Cucumber a Real Threat to the European Project?, is to take place on 9-11 November 2017 and includes an international conference in Sofia (9 November) and two training sessions for journalists in Sofia (10 November) and Plovdiv (11 November).
The list of participants includes Ida Eklund Lindwall (East Stratcom Task Force, European External Action Service), French journalist Jacques Pezet (Libération and Correctiv.org), and representatives of leading Bulgarian media and media analysts.
Topic
Fake news and post-truth were chosen as words of 2016, the year in which fake news and disinformation turned into a global political phenomenon believed to have influenced the most important political events in those twelve months – the Brexit referendum (June 2016) and the US presidential elections (November 2016).
The EU has also come under fire, raising fears that the European project will not survive the wave of anti-democratic propaganda aimed at Brussels and individual member states. More and more people are wondering if myths such as the one about the ban on the bendy cucumber could eventually turn into a real threat for the EU.
Where does Europe stand in this global mess? Is it managing to address fake news and propaganda properly and do these pose a threat to the democratic order? What are the potential solutions?
Join us in the quest for the answers to these and related questions!
Conference
The conference is going to take place on 9 November 2017 at Sofia Event Center, Paradise Center, 100 Cherni Vrah Boulevard, Sofia. The event targets journalists, media and communication professionals, academics, relevant business representatives, NGOs, as well as relevant state and international authorities. The one-day conference will be combined with practical workshops for Sofia-based and regional journalists in the following days.
During the conference, Ida Eklund Lindwall (East Stratcom Task Force, European External Action Service) will present the European perspective on the fight against fake news, while French journalist Jacques Pezet (Libération and Correctiv.org) will analyze the French and German fact-checking experience during the recent elections in both countries. From the Bulgarian side, media analysis company Perceptica will demonstrate the path of some popular pieces of fake news to the Bulgarian media. In addition, a panel of Bulgarian journalists and media experts will discuss the practices for countering disinformation in the country.
Training session in Sofia
The training session is to be held on November 10, 2017, at JA Startup Hambar, 111B Tsarigradsko Shose, Sofia Tech Park. Led by French journalist Jacques Pezet (Libération and Correctiv.org), it will provide participants with the latest techniques and instruments for fact-checking and reporting on fake news.
The workshop is free of charge and targets journalists based in Sofia. The spots are limited and the participants will be selected based on the quality of their applications. Fluency in English is a must, as it will be the working language of the training.
Training session in Plovdiv
The training session is to be held on November 11, 2017, at Otsreshta, 12 Beethoven Street, Plovdiv. Led by French journalist Jacques Pezet (Libération and Correctiv.org), it will provide participants with the latest techniques and instruments for fact-checking and reporting on fake news.
The workshop is free of charge and targets regional journalists from across the country. Participation is free of charge and travel costs are covered by the organizers. The spots are limited and the participants will be selected based on the quality of their applications. Fluency in English is a must, as it will be the working language of the training.
The international conference and the two training sessions are organized with the support of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and the America for Bulgaria Foundation. Media partners include the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR), Club Z, and Dnevnik.bg.