#UseFacts: ICS’s new project to detect and counteract disinformation

The Institute of Communication Studies (ICS) is launching a project that will provide support to citizens, journalists and civil society organizations to increase public understanding of the origins, motives and impact of disinformation in society. The project “Use of facts-based journalism to raise awareness of and counteract disinformation in the North Macedonia media space” is funded by the British Embassy in Skopje and will last until March 2025.

ICS, via its online media platforms, will investigate, expose and deconstruct the intentions, sources and narratives of disinformation that threaten to undermine public trust in institutions and increase the divide in society. This approach will highlight the damage caused by disinformation in North Macedonia.

The project will produce analytical and investigative journalistic stories, provide training and educational resources for citizens and journalists, and conduct media campaigns to raise public awareness. Thus, the project will support citizens, especially vulnerable groups, to distinguish credible content from malevolent content and to be informed by accurate and professional media products, which should reduce the impact of disinformation in society.

The project, in partnership with other media, will also advocate for transparency and accountability of authorities to strengthen public trust in institutions and reduce the spread of disinformation. Improved communication with institutions should encourage citizens to put pressure on the authorities to respond to their needs.

ICS online media platforms – Just Ask (Samo prashaj), Home (Doma), ResPublica and Medium, the media partner SDK.mk, as well as other media outlets, CSOs, academic organizations, public institutions, experts, activists and other citizens from the state and the region will be involved in the production of journalistic stories and media products and the implementation of project activities.