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FROM THEORY TO ACTION

Building Resilient Information Ecosystems to Protect Democracy’s Promise

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When

  • May 8    5 p.m. EEST/ 4 p.m. CEST/ 10 a.m. EDT/ 7 a.m. PDT

Where

  • Virtual    Zoom

Admission

  • Free    Registration required

Background

    • A shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities in countering disinformation.
    • Strengthened networks among academic institutions, civil society, and media for ongoing collaboration.
    • A set of actionable recommendations to enhance the role of academic institutions and civil society in building resilient information ecosystems.
    • Understanding Disinformation: Examine the mechanics of disinformation campaigns by authoritarian regimes, their impact on public discourse, and the challenges they pose to democratic institutions.
    • Role of Academia: Discuss how academic institutions can contribute to understanding and countering disinformation through research, education, and public engagement.
    • Empowering Students and Civil Society: Explore strategies for civil society organizations to enhance public awareness, foster critical thinking, and mobilize community responses against disinformation.
    • Collaborative Approaches: Identify opportunities for collaboration among academia, civil society, government agencies and media to create synergies in combating disinformation and promoting a culture of truth. Strengthen a multistakeholder approach to engaging directly with at-risk societies and groups vulnerable to disinformation.

  • The webinar aims at a broad audience of individuals and organizations interested in the respective topics. This event will provide particularly valuable information for:

    • Academics and researchers specializing in media studies, political science, and information technology.
    • Representatives from civil society organizations active in the fields of democracy, human rights, and media literacy.
    • Journalists and media professionals from independent outlets.
    • Policymakers and governmental advisors involved in media regulation and information security.
    • Students and young leaders passionate about defending democratic values.
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Speakers

Meet our speakers

  • Michael Duffin is a senior advisor on Countering Violent Extremism in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism. He began his State Department career in 2013 as a Presidential Management Fellow and possesses advanced degrees from Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, and the University of Southern California.

  • Răzvan Enache is lecturer at “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu. He has a PhD in sociology at “Babes-Bolyai” University of Cluj-Napoca. He is the author of two books: Structura ficţiunilor comunitare (The Structure of Community Fictions), 2007 and Relaţiile publice din perspectivă sociologică (Public Relations from a Sociological Perspective), 2009. He also wrote studies in literature and sociology. He co-directs Alkemie magazine (literature and philosophy), published by Garnier, France.

  • Tony Sgro is the Founder and CEO of EdVenture Partners (EVP). EVP implements experiential projects on over 900 universities and 400 high schools throughout the U.S. and 76 countries for societal change by connecting students, educators, and industry leaders. Tony has more than 45 years of experience in marketing, advertising, and promotion As Promotions Director at CBS in LA, he implemented promotions for some of music’s most iconic artists such as Madonna, Jerry Garcia, Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart and Prince, before striking out on his own in 1990. Tony has spoken at convenings about EVP in Belgium, Turkey, Czech Republic, Saudi Arabia, India, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Netherlands, Canada, United Kingdom and throughout the United States.

  • Daniela Moraru is a dedicated individual with a passion for volunteerism and community impact. Currently pursuing a degree in International Economics Relationships at the Academy of Economic Studies, she has already amassed an impressive range of experiences and skills in project management, fundraising, and community engagement. As a participant in the FLEX program as an exchange student, she dedicated over 100 hours to volunteering and spearheaded a project that raised $4000 for Ukrainian refugees, showcasing her commitment to social causes. Her involvement in organizations such as Mentor Me and the Global Entrepreneurship Network Moldova has seen her serve as a fundraising manager and branding intern, further honing her project management skills. Currently, Daniela is the project manager for her university’s U.S. Department of State SURE (Students for a Unified and Resilient Europe) project “InfoLence”, where she is responsible for defining project objectives, procuring project requirements, managing constraints, and ensuring client satisfaction.

  • Gregor is an advisor to the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic on information literacy and combating disinformation. He is also an assistant professor at the Department of Political Science at Masaryk University, where his research focuses on two areas: political communication and marketing, and disinformation and propaganda. Gregor has authored or co-authored several publications on manipulation techniques and the spread of disinformation in the online space, including the book 'Challenging Online Propaganda and Disinformation in the 21st Century'. Besides academic publications, he is also co-author of the popularization book 'The Best Book on Fake News, Disinformation, and Manipulation!!!', and has been a supervisor of the NGOs Zvol si info (Choose Your Info) and Fakescape - both dedicated to media literacy and critical thinking awareness.

  • Ambassador Delfin Pllana holds an MSc in International Relations from Corvinus University in Budapest (2005-2007) and completed an Executive MBA in General Management at the University of Sheffield, International Faculty in Thessaloniki (2014-2017). His BA (2001-2004) is in Political Science with a minor in Public Administration from the University of Prishtina, Kosovo, including a year abroad at the University of Passau, Germany (2003-2004). Currently, Ambassador Pllana is pursuing part-time PhD studies (2017-present) at the University of Sheffield/Southeast European Research Centre (SEERC) Thessaloniki, focusing on the implementation of economic and commercial diplomacy in the Western Balkans. He also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer on Political Science subjects at the University for Business & Technology College in Prishtina (2023-2024). Since 2009, he has been part of the diplomatic service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo. He was among the founders of the first diplomatic mission of the Republic of Kosovo in Hungary and served as Deputy Head of Mission with the rank of Minister-Counselor from 2010 to 2014.

  • Dr. Jacob Udo-Udo Jacob is the Panitza Memorial Endowed Executive Director of the CIDC. He recently served as the Under-Secretary-General for Research, Evaluation, and Foresight at the Organisation of Southern Cooperation. He was the Dean of Graduate School and Research at the American University of Nigeria (AUN) and the Oversight Chair of the Atiku Institute – the development, research, and enterprise arm of the university. At AUN, he collaborated with UNICEF Nigeria to create the region’s first UNICEF graduate program in Communication for Social and Behavior Change to meet the training needs of communication personnel working in humanitarian, development, and conflict-related sectors in West Africa. His academic career includes positions at New York University’s Center on International Cooperation, Dickinson College, and as an adjunct professor of Media in War and Peace at the US Army War College, Carlisle. Jacob earned his PhD in Communication Studies at the University of Leeds, United Kingdom.

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