Disinformation and democracy with Ute Schaeffer

Disinformation and propaganda is the evil and dark side of what communication can do. Join us as German based international communication expert Ute Schaeffer dissects what disinformation is, when it is used, how it works and what it aims to do. It is a topic that spans wars, elections, pandemics and times of dispute AND deliberately aims to cause social disharmony. This podcast delves into the responsibilities of journalists, what we should be teaching our children and what we can individually do. Ute asks key questions such as 'where do we have the space to confront ourselves with the ideas of other people without going into a free flow of aggression and dispute?' Tune into this big picture discussion with a communications focus, hosted by Monique Zytnik on behalf of the IABC EMENA region. Ute Schaeffer is an international communications professional with a background in journalism and publishing. She is currently Head of Media & Public Relations / Digital Communication for the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH - GIZ is the german federal agency for international cooperation and development. GIZ provides tailor-made, cost-efficient and effective services for sustainable development in cooperation with partner in more than 120 countries worldwide, also in fragile and post conflict countries. Ute is also the author of Fake statt Fakt - fake vs fact and has worked with organisations such as Deutsche Welle, Germany’s international broadcast, setting up the Ukrainian program and also as the Editor in Chief. Her focus topics include digital communication and the role of disinformation; international policy and development; human rights; and the forward and backward steps in democratisation worldwide. Ute also works with organisations on establishing collaborative workflows and teaching them how to be fit for digital challenges. For more information contact Ute via her website: http://uteschaeffer.de or LinkedIn https://de.linkedin.com/in/ute-schaeffer-5a58b0119 The IABC World Conference 2022 is proud to present “Stronger Together: Gift of Communications Idea Exchange” to benefit The Media Assistance Coordination Center, set up by The Media Development Foundation specifically to combat dis- and misinformation and to support journalists in the Ukraine. All are invited to support this effort and donate! Gift of Communications participants at the World Conference in New York will be randomly matched in pairs and encouraged to learn from each other – to be mentored or reverse-mentored, to brainstorm or run an idea by another professional communicator, or to gain insight into a different culture, industry or marcomms tool. Look for links to donate and participate soon!