While the digital era has presented opportunities for enhancing freedom of expression, social media also poses new challenges. The spread of disinformation and misinformation online, intimidation and harassment (particularly against women), hate speech, and micro-targeting can undermine electoral and governance processes. During this five-week massive open online course, which will be held from September 19 to October 23, 2022, students will explore the diverse malpractices, strategies and techniques, which electoral stakeholders face online.
This MOOC will provide examples of multi-stakeholders’ responses by civil society organizations, journalists, electoral management bodies, media regulatory authorities and electoral stakeholders to contribute to a transparent and inclusive online ecosystem.
Speakers will include: Alphonce Shiundu, Africa Check; Andrew Puddephatt, Internet Watch Foundation; Benoît Loutrel, Regulatory Authority for Audiovisual and Digital Communication (Autorité de régulation de la communication audiovisuelle et numérique; ARCOM); Glen Mashini, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa; Guilherme Canela, Chief of UNESCO’s Section on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists; Patricia Campos Mello, journalist; Roselyn Akombe, Head of Governance and Peacebuilding in Africa for UNDP; Lorenzo Córdova Vianello and Karla Garduno, National Electoral Institute (INE) Mexico; Vusumuzi Sifile, Panos South Africa; Ghassen Selmi, Media and Digital Transformation Specialist at UNDP Regional Hub for the Arab States.
Opportunity offered by:
Knight Center Journalism Courses
Opportunity type
Location(s) where available
Areas of focus
Civic journalism
Elections
Government/Politics