Everything we read, watch or listen to matters. Sometimes even more than it seems. Because one unverified piece of news can cause panic, and a well-presented fake can change the opinion of an entire city. How to counteract this?
This is what the participants of the “STOPmanipulator” training, which took place on 31 March - 1 April 2025 in Rivne, were thinking about. Two days without templates and boring theory, only practical tools, lively discussions, and critical thinking in action. The event was organised by the Academy of Ukrainian Press with the support of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in Ukraine.
Participants dived into the analysis of fakes, learned how the language of manipulation works, why emotions are the main weapon in information wars, and how to avoid becoming a target. They also talked about hate speech, information bubbles, cyber hygiene, and personal media management. The event culminated in the “Media Literate Mafia” game, where the winner was the one who thought rather than panicked.
Valeriy Ivanov, President of the Academy of Ukrainian Press, said it well at the start: "We live in a world where information is not just a fact, but a weapon. And if you don't check it, you are a target".
They also talked about how the news today is not only about events, but also about our belief in a "just world" that often presents us with a distorted picture.
Yulia Kulyk, AUP project coordinator, said: "The greatest danger is not in lies, but in half-truths. We don't just consume content - we incorporate it into our own picture of the world".
There was a lot of interactivity. There were "Lego News", where participants assembled media stories from fragments, a search for disinformation "filmmakers", and, of course, a mafia media game, where critical thinking skills were needed more than ever.
Andriy Yurychko, PhD in Philology, journalist, lecturer at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, said: "Information detox is not about isolation. It's about making a conscious choice: what to read, whom to listen to, and when to say “stop”".
In the end, there were certificates, hugs, selfies, and most importantly, a feeling that it is now a little easier not to get lost in the ocean of post-truth.
STOPmanipulator is like a filter that turns on in your head. With it, you are less likely to be manipulated. And more likely that you will remain yourself.
Gefördert durсh die Bundesrepublik Deutschland
With the support of the Federal Republic of Germany
