Propaganda and lies are the order of the day for every Ukrainian. The situation with fake news has become critical for the minds of citizens after the full-scale invasion. Every day, inaccurate information confuses, manipulates consciousness, affects the emotional state and oozes from most media platforms, so what to do?
The Academy of Ukrainian Press is well aware of the standards of journalism and appeals to the pluralism of views. That is why, during our regular meeting on 25 May 2023 at the online bridge "We learn from others and do not shy away from our own", we invited the participants to hear from a master who strives for only truthful reporting - Tim Sebastian.
The event was moderated by Tetiana Ivanova, AUP media expert, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor, and Head of the Department of Social Communications at Mariupol State University.
What was the British journalist's answer to one of the most perplexing questions: how can Ukrainians resist Russian narratives?
Tim Sebastian emphasised that it is impossible to isolate oneself from propaganda. To protect yourself from false information, conducting research using open sources, i.e., fact-checking, is essential.
"We live in a post-truth world. The Internet is a propaganda machine, a potent tool. And there is no solution to how to fight it globally. I advise you not to accept anyone's versions unless many sources confirm them. Especially if it concerns the government, no matter what country, learn to catch false statements made by officials and doubt what you hear. It is important to find and show where the official has deviated from the truth or failed to keep his promises. Also, look at the people who supported the official," the journalist said.
Tim Sebastian's professional environment is hard talk with his interviewers. Tetiana Ivanova asked why this particular area has become successful for Tim.
"I voice the accusations and ask the guest to respond publicly. This is what hard talk is all about. The idea is that maybe this will change their unscrupulous behaviour for the benefit of society. We are journalists; we represent public opinion. We lodge complaints against those who hold public office. We look at what officials fail to do. And we get explanations for what went wrong. The more precisely we point out what has not been fulfilled, the more specific the response," said Tim Sebastian.
The full recording of the conversation with the British journalist will soon be available on the ULA Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/aupfoundation).
We advise you to take advantage of this opportunity, as Tim answered many questions in the media context. In conclusion, the journalist noted that justice would be served and, on behalf of many colleagues, wished Ukrainians peace and the ability to hold on to the truth!
