16.05.2022 Media industry
Disinformation and Fake News. Experts Discuss Challenges for Journalists
RINF
The pandemic, followed by the war in Ukraine, triggered a massive wave of disinformation in media and social channels. Experts at the Impact’22 Congress in Poznań and the European Economic Congress in Katowice discussed effective strategies to combat disinformation.
Poczytaj artykuł
Widespread digitalization brings risks—among them, the ease with which lies and manipulations, often maintaining a semblance of credibility, can reach large audiences.
- Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the number of unverified reports reaching citizens has significantly increased. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has further amplified this phenomenon, noted Łukasz Świerżewski, a board member of PAP, during a discussion at Impact’22 focused on methods to effectively verify and eliminate fake news.
According to Świerżewski, news agencies like the Polish Press Agency (PAP) are on the front lines of combating public misinformation. Journalists must apply an "anti-disinformation filter" to all communications, especially those from external sources.
One example of efforts to reduce the spread of fake news is the PAP-operated platform fakehunter.pap.pl, where internet users can report potentially false information. Over the past two years, PAP staff have verified more than 2,000 reports.
- The increasing number of submissions indicates that society is becoming more aware of fake news and the dangers of allowing it to thrive in media and online spaces, Świerżewski said. - However, this does not absolve us from the responsibility of continually educating citizens on the need to screen and verify the information they receive, as those seeking to mislead us are constantly improving their manipulation techniques.
Verification? Few Attempt It
Recent studies show that while over 80% of Poles understand the concept of disinformation and have encountered it, only 5% attempt to verify false information—experts highlighted during the "Disinformation" panel at the European Economic Congress in Katowice.
- Researchers point out that, much like gossip in everyday life, false information spreads better. It`s more engaging and emotional, making it highly shareable, said Dr. Agnieszka Legucka, a lecturer at the Vistula University of Finance and Business and analyst on Russia at the Polish Institute of International Affairs.
- Disinformation refers to any message intended not to inform the recipient truthfully but to manipulate by providing false information for a specific purpose, such as political or ideological, explained Dr. Małgorzata Molęda-Zdziech, head of the Department of Political Studies at the Warsaw School of Economics and expert in the Team Europe Direct Poland network. - The sender does this in a way that is not consciously recognized by the recipient.
- The best way to avoid falling for disinformation is to maintain a healthy distance. Take a deep breath and verify what you’ve heard from reliable sources, emphasized Dr. Agnieszka Legucka. According to her, credible sources include fact-checking portals that validate information. - A majority of Poles would like to see such portals funded and recognize the need for their existence.
Anti-Vaccination Accounts Spread Disinformation About Ukraine
- We try to react as quickly as possible by identifying the source of the information. We monitor the Polish information space, identify the origins, and track hundreds of accounts producing this disinformation. These accounts are surrounded by networks of people who believe in or find the content interesting and share it further, often unknowingly spreading fake news, explained Robert Król, Deputy Director of NASK for New Technologies for Public Policy. He added that his institute, along with fact-checking portals, continuously verifies online content.

- The war in Ukraine and the accompanying wave of refugees to Poland have recently dominated fake news themes online. "Some joke that Putin killed the pandemic. Anti-vaccination accounts have pivoted to spreading false information about Ukrainian refugees," noted Agnieszka Legucka.
She added that these narratives often originate from Russian disinformation and aim to foster anti-Ukrainian sentiment, fear, and anxiety in Polish society. For example, they claim refugees will be treated better in schools, hospitals, and other institutions than Poles.
- Disinformation targeting Poland is conducted on a large scale and cannot be underestimated. It is subtle and tailored to Polish audiences, as straightforward pro-Russian messages would not be effective in Poland. Its dissemination is highly complex, networked, and uses not only direct Russian sources but also anti-vaccination and far-right communities, concluded Łukasz Lipiński, editor-in-chief of Polityka.pl.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
New articles in section Media industry
Clickbait Uncovered. How Online Headlines Evolved Over 25 Years
Krzysztof Fiedorek
Researchers from the Max Planck Institute analyzed 40 million headlines from the past 25 years. They are getting longer, more emotional, and negative, with a clear influence of clickbait style. Even reputable media use strategies and tricks to grab attention.
Gen Z Will Force Brands to Tell the Truth. GWI Report and Forecasts
Krzysztof Fiedorek
They value authenticity and brand transparency, preferring socially engaged companies. Young people see technology as a tool for growth, not just entertainment. In relationships, they prioritize genuine connections despite being highly active online. What do we know about Gen Z, and what does this mean for marketing? And beyond.
Deepfake Blurs Truth and Falsehood. Human Perception Research
KFi
Studies indicate that only 60% of deepfake images can be correctly identified by humans. As AI begins to dominate content production, the problem of differentiation fatigue grows – users lose confidence in assessing the authenticity of information and fall into cynicism.
See articles on a similar topic:
Review of media from around the world. See what they are buzzing about [LINK]
AUTOPROMOCJA Reporterzy.info
What is the media buzzing about? A review of the headlines of the most important newspapers and websites. Events of the day, country, world, media market, economy, sport, foreign media, and even gossip and curiosities. In real time and 24 hours a day. We invite you!
Models of Journalistic Organizations
Zenon Kuczera
An overview, operational principles, and characteristics of journalistic organizations operating in Belgium, Canada, Switzerland, and the United States.
E-commerce Forecasts in Poland. Trends for 2024 and Beyond
Krzysztof Fiedorek
In 2024, e-commerce in Poland is reaching new heights, with an increasing number of consumers regularly shopping online. The report "E-shopping Habits of Poles 2024," prepared by SAMOSEO analysts, analyzes current trends and forecasts the industry's near future.
Fake News and Disinformation in Poland. Scale, Impact and Future
Bartłomiej Dwornik
Where do the sources of disinformation lie, and how large is the scale of this wave? Why are we so susceptible to false information, and what role do traditional media play in this puzzle? Let’s shed some light on these issues and face the question: can the battle against the flood of disinformation still be won?