Media and Information Literacy is like a vaccine to protect ourselves from disinformation
The recent pandemic has confronted the world with a new wave of disinformation, which affects the fight against the disease. This “Disinfodemic” not only fuels risks to public health, but also feeds socio-political polarization, providing grounds for hate and division. Therefore, this year’s annual celebration of UNESCO’s Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week will be dedicated to “Resisting Disinfodemic: Media and Information Literacy for everyone and, by everyone”.
To celebrate Global MIL week, UNESCO Cambodia is launching a social media campaign that will kick-off on 22 October. UNESCO has designed a series of educational posters in Khmer language to aid the public in navigating the information overload in social media, and learn how to differentiate truthful and reliable information from fabricated news and harmful content.
Nine local and international partners in Cambodia are joining UNESCO in the campaign, including Cambodian Journalists Alliance (CamboJA), Voice of Democracy (VOD), Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM), Alliance for Conflict Transformation (ACT), Transparency International Cambodia, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), UN Human Rights, the Swedish, British and German Embassies. All of them will share UNESCO’s educational posters through their online platforms as part of the campaign.
Social media users are also encouraged to share the content further, to help their friends and relatives understand better the threat of disinformation and build their resilience to the disinfodemic. As Eric Nam, K-Pop celebrity and UNESCO’s MIL Week Ambassador, says “Media and Information Literacy is like a vaccine to protect ourselves from disinformation”.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, UNESCO has scaled up its efforts in addressing information disorders, and promoting freedom of expression and access to information. In Cambodia, the UN organization has launched a handbook for journalists to strengthen their reporting on fake news and disinformation; has provided online capacity building for journalists on reporting during the pandemic while staying safe from the virus; has engaged with Cambodian celebrities and influencers to raise awareness among the youth on the dangers of online disinformation; and has launched the Open Your Heart campaign to combat hate speech, promote solidarity, tolerance and social cohesion amid the pandemic through art and the creation of viral content.