the Disinformation
Playbook
IPI, Taz, and Faktograf are working together to decode populist propaganda in Europe targeting fact-checkers and investigative journalists – who are both essential players in the fight against disinformation.
The Observatory.
The Observatory of Disinformation Narratives Against the Media exposes the common disinformation narratives that have been adopted and adapted to each country by populist, nationalist and extremist leaders and movements.
This framework provides the public, journalists, policymakers and researchers with a valuable tool to identify the manipulation of public opinion through disinformation that directly threatens the credibility of independent journalism.
Case studies.
Fake Voices of Europe –
The AI-attack on Slovak Journalist Monika Tódová
Report and investigation by Christian Jakob (TAZ daily newspaper, Berlin) and Javier Luque Martínez (IPI)
No Reporting without Bodyguard:
Attacks on Media and Journalists in the German State of Thuringia
Report and investigation by Christian Jakob and Malene Gürgen – TAZ daily newspaper (Berlin)
‘Culture warriors’: The far-right’s campaign against Adina Marincea
Report and investigation by Jean-Philipp Baeck (TAZ) and Javier Luque Martínez (IPI)
Attacks on Croatian weekly Novosti: “Light ‘em up or shut ‘em down”
Report and investigation by Tajana Broz from Faktograf – Association for the Informed Public
How conspiracy groups in Spain worked to undermine the media literacy project of the Maldita.es Foundation
Report and investigation by Javier Luque, International Press Institute (IPI)
Franziska Tschinderle: Attacked by Orbán’s state media
Report and investigation by taz journalists Christian Jakob, Jean-Philipp Baeck and Luisa Kuhn
Alexander Roth: Smeared and threatened by the far-right next door
Report and investigation by taz journalists Christian Jakob, Jean-Philipp Baeck and Luisa Kuhn
When disinformation campaigns fuel hate and harassment
Report and investigation by Faktograf – Association for the Informed Public
The Guide.
IPI and Faktograd have launched an online guide to give journalists, fact-checkers and researchers a handy framework to investigate disinformation and smear campaigns targeting media professionals on the frontlines of exposing disinformation.
The Guide to Decoding Disinformation offers a step-by-step approach to identifying the tactics, techniques and procedures behind disinformation campaigns, increasingly used to silence critical reporting and erode public trust in fact-based news.
Methodological Framework.
This methodological framework is not one-size-fits-all as the approach to investigating disinformation campaigns will always need to be adapted to the context. However, in sharing our methodology, we hope to provide other investigators and researchers with a useful tool for identifying the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) of disinformation campaigns that weaponise online harassment and intimidation and smear tactics against media outlets with the goal of silencing critical journalism and eroding the audience’s trust in reliable, evidence-based news.
Best Practices.
Building on the findings from our survey, we aim to gain deeper insights into how fact-checkers in Europe prepare for, respond to, and combat disinformation and harassment during election periods.
Faktograf and the International Press Institute selected six fact-checking organizations and analyzed their strategies for countering attacks by political actors and public figures during elections. After the European elections, these organizations were revisited to assess the effectiveness of their measures and to explore the dominant disinformation narratives used in these attacks.
This report is based on the insights gathered from those follow-up discussions.
Survey.
Our partner Faktograf published the final analysis from a pioneering survey that explores the impact of harassment and disinformation targeting fact-checking organisations in Europe.
The survey is a part of the IPI-led Decoding Disinformation Playbook project, in partnership with Faktograf and German daily Taz.
Podcast.
Decoding Disinformation is a podcast series about how a group of journalists are investigating the strategies used by populists and extremist groups to divert attention from facts, create noise and, ultimately, generate uncertainty.
Investigating disinformation, upholding truth
The project Decoding the disinformation playbook of populism in Europe is supported by the European Media and Information Fund, managed by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
Disclaimer:
The sole responsibility for any content supported by the European Media and Information Fund lies with the author(s) and it may not necessarily reflect the positions of the EMIF and the Fund Partners, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the European University Institute.
