In the first year of the “#InfluencersAgainstDisinfo” project, the focus is mainly on combating disinformation by (domestic) actors, especially in the context of the EU elections. Participants from Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia are trained through a series of digital workshops and two study trips to Berlin and Warsaw.
The workshops address specific challenges and techniques for identifying misinformation and provide strategies to effectively combat it on social media. The study trips promote exchange and offer insights into information analysis and processing through meetings with leading experts.
At the end of the first project cohort, guidelines for a “Code of Ethics for Social Media Influencers and Content Creators” will be created. These guidelines will establish clear principles that define the ethical standards and norms of conduct for influencers and content creators, particularly in the context of disinformation.
The results will be published here.
Events
- 11.09.2024 First Digital Workshop
- 16.10. – 18.10.2024 Berlin Study Trip
- 14.11.2024 Second Digital Workshop
- 12.12.2024 Third Digital Workshop
- 15.01. – 17.01.2025 Warsaw Study Trip
- 05.02.2025 Final Digital Workshop
Participants
Mykola Davydiuk
Mykola Davydiuk is a political scientist, YouTube blogger and director of think tank Politics. Author of two books. Had an internship in Harvard Kennedy school.
Tomas Panek
Tomas Panek (he/him) is a Czech-born, globally educated marketing professional with 11+ years of experience driving growth in diverse industries through impactful communication strategies. With a background in Marketing & International Business, Tomas has shaped brand narratives and fueled success in diverse industries, including tech, aviation, media, telco, and FMCG. His global journey, spanning from Prague to New York City, has equipped him with a unique perspective and ability to connect with diverse audiences. Currently, as a Lead Consultant in Growth Marketing at Google, Tomas spearheads AI-driven digital transformation initiatives, propelling clients into the next wave of success. He also dedicates his pro-bono expertise to social causes, including consulting on the award-winning UK campaign QueerJoy.org.
Olga Maslova
Olga Maslova is a science communicator and popularizer with an academic background and biotech industry experience. PhD in Cell Biology (Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv), part-time Senior Lecturer at the State University “Kyiv Aviation Institute”, author of sci-pop books about sleep and cell biology, and numerous articles and lectures on biology and health-related topics for media, business, and various age and social groups. Co-founder of Nobilitet (an annual event about the Nobel Prize), radio host, and author of the YouTube channel “Naukpopil”. Alumna of the “Values and Society 8” seminar from the Aspen Institute Kyiv.
Martyna Zachorska
Martyna F. Zachorska – Linguist, author of “Żeńska końcówka języka”, a popular science publication dealing with linguistic aspects of gender in Polish. PhD candidate at Adam Mickiewicz University Poznań. Literary translator of, among other projects, “NY Times” bestseller “Butts. A Backstory” by Heather Radke. Conference interpreter trained in the European Commission’s Directorate‑General for Interpretation. Content creator, award-winning influencer known as Pani od Feminatywów (Lady of Feminine Forms). Glamour Magazine 2023 Woman of the Year nominee. Author of numerous publications on gender and language. Speaker at domestic and international conferences, including Impact CEE and Economic Forum.
Anna Smetanová
Anna Smetanová is a 23-year-old Education student and content creator from the Czech Republic. Passionate about poetry, theatre, and working with kids, this inspires both her studies and the content shared on social media. As a slam poetry performer and writer, she often shares her poems online, along with lifestyle content such as daily vlogs or talking videos. While she enjoys posting lighter content, she also uses her platform to address more serious and important topics, including the war in Ukraine.
Taras Kovalchuk
Communications Manager at the Southern Development Platform. Blogger and influencer: Telegram blog “Kovalchuk” and media about non-formal education “Nonformal O”. Former military correspondent at Levila Estonia.
Tomáš Kriššák
Tomáš Kriššák is an expert on cognitive security. Tomáš is a stratcom senior consultant in Gerulata Technologies. Previously he was or is part of many Slovak initiatives and projects that tackle modern phenomena of disinformation and hate speech like #Iamhere network, chatbot Checkbot, Confident Slovakia and many more. He is also an experienced lector of courses of critical thinking and media literacy, his newest project HOPE is focusing is to bring his skills and knowledge to teachers and students from all around Slovakia
Martyna Zastawna
Pioneer and promoter of Circularity in Europe. One of the World’s most Promising Women by Fortune. One of the most influential women in Poland according to Forbes; Sustainable Development Leader by Forbes. Founder of woshwosh (the world’s first shoe renewal company) and these girls (Poland’s first socially responsible marketing agency) university lecturer, mentor focusing on the issue of sustainability. Climate expert at the European Investment Bank and the UN. Author of many social campaigns awarded in Poland and abroad. TED speaker, participant in conferences in New York, Washington, Brussels, Berlin.
Dmytro Gadomsky
Dmytro is the founder and editor of the Dead Lawyers Society, an informal community of Ukrainian lawyers. With over 15 years of expertise in intellectual property law and litigation, he continues to practice while also contributing to legal journalism. His reporting spans international legal business, domestic legal matters, war crimes, and the impact of international sanctions. In his spare time, he engages with legal scholarship, often turning his insights into enormously boring podcasts.
Sergiu Vasile
Sergiu Vasile (Romania), better known as Vasile, is a Bucharest-based blogger, satirist and cartoonist. He runs Utopia Balcanica, a blog centered on culture, food and humor, and writes for Times New Roman, the country’s most popular satirical website, where he often touches on local politics and social issues. He is active on Facebook and Instagram.
Anastasia Pukha
I’m Anastasia Pukha, a PR Manager from Kyiv, Ukraine. I build communications for multiple local and international brands such as Crocs, and previously for the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. Moreover, I consult and deliver lectures at a few communication schools.
Since the topic of disinformation is relevant for the third year of the Russia-Ukraine war, I want to spread the acquired knowledge to opinion leaders further and oppose the Russian IPSO.
David Matei
David Matei is a Captain with the German Armed Forces, currently serving as a Youth Information Officer in Stuttgart. Aside from his military work, he is a content creator on social media, where he focuses on explaining security policy to Generation Z particularly on TikTok. He is known for his appearances on ZDF’s “Morgenmagazin-Duell,” and his participation in the 75th NATO Summit and a visit to the White House.
Mihai-George Stoica
Mihai, known online as ‘Kinezarie’, makes short-form video essays on Romanian narratives that people believe to be true without asking why.
Leonie Heims
Leonie Heims works in the field of democracy promotion. As a social Media manager on a project, the fight against disinformation plays a big role, keeping an eye on the latest trends in conspiracy circles and educating people about them. Her approach is to shed light on the issue in an entertaining yet fact-based way. Leonie specialised in ‘Cognitive Media Linguistics’ (M.A.). Her focus was on the role of language in disinformation, persuasion and framing.
Kateryna Zabotkina
Kateryna Zabotkina is a communications coordinator at the Aspen Institute Kyiv.
She has practical communication experience in the public and private sectors, specifically working in the Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) and the Shipping Administration. She focuses heavily on copywriting and organizing PR events, and she has experience in electoral campaigns.
Kateryna Zabotkina is also passionate about translating songs in sign language for people with hearing impairments. This year, she translated the Eurovision Song Contest. Her performances garnered significant attention on social media for the emotional expressiveness and artistic use of sign language.
In her free time, Kateryna plays chess and tries sports such as running and cycling.
Previous Projects
Disinformation and the Role of Social Media Influencers in Times of Crises, Conflicts, and Wars 2023
Influencers and content creators on social media have gained a prominent role in today’s information environment as opinion makers and agenda setters. They are no longer solely relevant in the communication and marketing strategies of companies but are also gaining importance in the political information ecosystem. You can find more information here.
