Responsible & Safe reporting training

This training provides journalists with the skills to monitor viral stories, understand emerging strategies to counter mis and disinformation, and ensure their online safety. Journalists will learn strategies to monitor and identify trending disinformation stories and will be shown tools for communicating safely with sources and handling online harassment.

While many journalists are aware of fact-checking and debunking initiatives, in a survey conducted by PA Training of more than 100 UK journalists, most journalists said that they needed to learn more about new disinformation techniques such as pre-bunking and inoculation theory.

The module includes real-world activities that challenge journalists to verify live misinformation on social media, allowing them to enhance their skills and problem solving abilities in real-world scenarios.

Monitor Viral Stories:

1. Use advanced search operators to track trending social media stories
2. Use Google Trends to investigate what users are searching for and find keywords that are rising in popularity
3. Use open source tools such as CrowdTangle, LiveMap, and OneMilliontweetMap

New Techniques and Future Trends in Combating Mis and Disinformation:

1. Understand new strategies to counter mis and disinformation
2. Understand how games can be used to counter mis and disinformation
3. Recognise novel approaches to countering mis and disinfo, such as the use of humour

Online Safety:

1. Make an assessment of your digital footprint and secure your accounts
2. Communicate safely with sources
3. Create an escalation procedure in case of online harassment