The Future of Fact-Checking in the Philippines
MEDIA, TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY PROGRAMME
About the Webinar
The Philippines has been dubbed as “patient zero” in the global struggle against disinformation. “Fake news”, social media powered “alternative media”, and fact-checking became key electoral integrity issues in the 2016 and 2022 Philippine presidential elections. More recently, attempts to curb disinformation included fact-checking initiatives led by academics, journalists, and non-governmental organisations. While these initiatives brought fake news to the public agenda, their reach and efficacy have been limited. There are also preliminary studies suggesting that fact-checking may even intensify cognitive biases and promote political support for disinformation-spreading politicians. Given this, how can fact-checking be enhanced to truly and meaningfully counter disinformation?
This webinar explores the future of fact-checking beyond elections and toward the information ecosystem that pervades ordinary Filipinos’ everyday lives. It unpacks the connections between technology and disinformation in a perniciously polarised environment. This webinar explores questions including: What fact-checking initiatives were used in the Philippines and were they effective in countering disinformation? How can media platforms and politicians be held to account? What challenges do fact-checkers face in the Philippines and what are the lessons for other countries in Southeast Asia?
About the Speakers
Dr. Ma. Diosa Labiste is an Associate Professor in the Department of Journalism, College of Mass Communication at the University of the Philippines-Diliman.
Dr. Edson C. Tandoc Jr. is an Associate Professor and the Associate Chair for Research at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He is the Director of the Center for Information Integrity and the Internet (IN-cube).
Ms. Yvonne T. Chua is an Associate Professor of journalism at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.
Registration
This webinar will be delivered online entirely. You can join the webinar at the specified date and time using devices (computer, phone, or tablet) with internet connection.
Please register here to receive your unique link for joining the webinar.
If you have questions for the speakers, please key in your questions via the Q&A, stating your name and affiliation. The moderator will field them to the speakers during the Q&A session.