CANCELED: Truth Matters: Building a Media Literate Society

Helsinki Central Library Oodi
Logo of the Truth Matters: Building a Media Literate society. The logo consists of white rectangles with their frames fading from black to light gray and the name of the seminar is in the middle.
In response to the global pandemic of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and in consideration of the health and safety of all speakers, audience, and the hosts, the Fulbright Finland Foundation has decided to cancel the Truth Matters: Building a Media Literate Society seminar on March 18, 2020.

This decision wasn’t easy, but the extremely rapid changes in the situation within the past few days have made it the only possible alternative. Traveling increases the risk of spreading and being exposed to the virus. Also, given the increasing number of infections in Finland and due to a general concern, we think this is the only responsible course of action. The safety and well-being of everyone is naturally our top priority.

We apologize for any inconvenience the cancellation may cause.

If you have questions related to event cancellation, please don’t hesitate to contact Maija Kettunen, [email protected]
 

The Fulbright Finland Foundation is pleased to announce its newest special seminar and networking opportunity under the Foundation’s Nordic-Baltic Initiative. “Truth Matters: Building a Media Literate Society” is a day-long seminar organized by the Fulbright Finland Foundation exclusively for the current U.S. Fulbright grantees and Fulbright alumni from the Nordic and Baltic countries.

Wednesday, March 18, 2020, at 10:30-16:00
Location: Helsinki Central Library Oodi, Kuutio & Maijansali, Töölönlahdenkatu 4, Helsinki

The seminar is an invitation-only event.

In a post-truth era, where disinformation and manipulated realities spread via rapid communication, how can we decipher what is true and false information? A media literate society has the skills and capacity to access, critically understand and analyze information.

This seminar invites the Fulbright community from the Nordic and Baltic countries and special guests to explore and discuss critical media literacy skills necessary for citizens in a modern democracy. 

The seminar includes a keynote address, moderated expert panel discussion, and an interactive workshop, focusing on the everyday realities and challenges of manipulated information and identifying strategies and concrete actions to build a media literate society. The hands-on workshop explores democratic resilience: fact-checking and digital literacy.

Pre-Seminar Program

09:00-10:30 Nordic-Baltic Fulbright Alumni Collaboration Dialogue
Location: Kuutio, 2nd floor

In conjunction with the seminar, the Foundation and the Finnish ASLA-Fulbright Alumni Association offer a regional Nordic-Baltic Fulbright networking event and an Alumni Collaboration Dialogue, during which the Nordic and Baltic Fulbright alumni can discuss and plan regional collaboration. 

Discussion facilitators:

  • Kirsi Cheas, Ph.D., President, ASLA-Fulbright Alumni Association
  • Austė Valinčiūtė, President, US-LT Alumni Association

10:30-10:45 Break

Registration (collect name tag if you haven't received it the night before)

Seminar Program

10:45-12:15 Keynote Luncheon
Location: Maijansali, 1st floor

MC for the Program: Leasa Weimer, Ph.D., Fulbright Finland Foundation, Assistant Director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives 

Welcome remarks and introduction of the keynote speaker: Terhi Mölsä, CEO, Fulbright Finland Foundation

Keynote: Päivi Anttikoski, Director General, Government Communications, Prime Minister’s Office, Finland

12:15-12:30 Break

12:30-13:30 Panel Discussion: Realities of Disinformation and Media Literacy

Moderator: Leasa Weimer, Ph.D., Fulbright Finland Foundation, Assistant Director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives 

Panelists:

  • Gwenaëlle Bauvois, Ph.D., University of Helsinki Researcher; Member of the Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Network project ‘Post-Truth Politics, Nationalism and the (De)Legitimation of European Integration’
  • Olli Seuri, Ph.D., Professor of Practice; Tampere University; Journalist; Journalist of the Year 2018
  • Kristina Kaihari, Counsellor of Education, Finnish National Agency for Education
  • Mikko Salo, Faktabaari (FactBar) Co-Founder; Member of the European Commission’s High-Level Group on Fake News and Online Disinformation

13:30-13:45 Break

13:45-15:30 Workshop: Democratic Resilience: Fact-checking and Digital Literacy

  • Kari Kivinen, Ph.D., Head of the Lycée franco-finlandais d’Helsinki and the former Secretary-General of the European School system
  • Mikko Salo, Faktabaari (FactBar) Co-Founder; Member of the European Commission’s High-Level Group on Fake News and Online Disinformation

Workshop content:

  • Introduction to voter literacy and information literacy concepts
  • Where do we get our information from? Media scene analyse.
  • Information about ethical principles of journalism.
  • Basic information about mis-, dis- and mal-information with real-life examples. 
  • How do real fact-checkers work? A positive example of Greta. 
  • How to evaluate the usability and reliability of sources of the claim with simple-to-use check-list tools. 
  • Demystifying algorithms – thinking critically our “bubbles”.
  • Information about the latest image/video verification tools and techniques to verify and assess the reliability and accuracy of the media coverage.
  • Ethical reflection about our digital footprint. Which data do I want to share about myself? Privacy awareness - take ownership of your data.

14:30-14:45 Coffee Break

15:30-15:50 Disinformation as One Part of a Hybrid Threat
Päivi Tampere, Ph.D, Head of Communications, The European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats – Hybrid CoE 

15:50-16:00 Closing Remarks
Terhi Mölsä, CEO, Fulbright Finland Foundation

16:30 Networking Dinner

 

Background Reading

Interviews of the speakers:

Selected publications by the speakers:

 

Nordic-Baltic Fulbright Initiative

The goal under the Fulbright Finland Foundation’s regional Nordic-Baltic Initiative is to organize special seminars on critical current themes combined with opportunities and space for developing long-term networks and concrete collaboration amongst grantees and alumni in the Nordic Baltic region. This is the third year of the Initiative. The Foundation extends a special welcome to the Fulbright grantees and alumni from the Baltic and Nordic countries who are attending the Truth Matters seminar as participants of the Nordic-Baltic Fulbright Initiative. 

Our goal under the Fulbright Finland Foundation’s Nordic-Baltic Initiative is to organize special seminars on critical current themes combined with opportunities and space for developing long-term networks and concrete collaboration amongst grantees and alumni in the Nordic Baltic region.   

Thank You

The Fulbright Finland Foundation wants to sincerely thank the large number of individuals and organizations in Finland whose support and expertise have made this Seminar possible. A special thank you to the Finnish and U.S. governments for their financial support for the Foundation, and to the U.S. Congress for funding this Seminar.