The role of media in changing the narrative 

In the second session of the webinar series hosted jointly by the World Humanitarian Forum (WHF) and Crisis Response Journal on August 20, 2020, the focus is on the media.



Today’s global context has increased pressures and complexities. On one hand, the international community must continue to focus on the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and the need to deliver measurable transformative change. On the other hand, the world has come to a halt and the Covid-19 pandemic is at the epicentre of combined international efforts. 

Although misinformation and fake news are nothing new and have surfaced many times before, their spread has been far-reaching as the Covid-19 pandemic has swept across the globe. From false remedies for the virus to links between 5G and Covid-19, misinformation has been systematically disseminated worldwide and in many languages. It is the responsibility of governments and media outlets alike to contain and fight against misinformation but can others such as local activists also play a role?

Emily Hough, Editor in Chief of CRJ will moderate the session to encourage a cross-sector, multidisciplinary dialogue between an impressive line-up of presenters. The aim of the 70 minute session is to answer some of the pressing questions on misinformation, how we fight it in the context of Covid-19 and what makes it so much different now compared with before. Speakers include Antonio Zappulla, CEO at Thomson Reuters Foundation; Heba Aly, Director of The New Humanitarian; Deborah Charles, Managing Editor at Devex; and Awad Joumaa, Executive Producer of News, Al-Jazeera.

The webinar is on August 20, at 15:00hrs (BST). Register for free here. Please note that a link to the session will be sent on the day of the webinar.

Thumbnail: Jason Winter/123rf