trAiNing mediA professionals on appLYing advanced, high-impact digital technologieS to combat dISinformation

<< Background >>The ANALYSIS project was developed to address the urgent need for advanced digital and verification skills among media professionals in Greece, Austria, and Portugal. The deliberate spread of fake news, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical crises, negatively affects millions of people across the globe and deteriorates democracy, social cohesion, and undermines freedom of expression. A review of existing research conducted during the proposal phase revealed that all partner countries suffered from the absence of structured fact-checking education and limited access to further training, mainly due to financial constraints in the media sector. At the same time, journalists faced increasing demands for new digital skills to remain employable in the changing media industry. ANALYSIS aimed to fill these gaps by offering a multinational, intensive training program to enhance the employability of journalists and empower them with practical tools and methodologies to tackle online misinformation and promote trustworthy journalism.<< Objectives >>The project aimed to address the pressing needs of working journalists and the priorities in training professionals within the media sector. Through the “Fact-Checking Academy”, a 6-week intensive course, the project intended to equip participants with practical digital skills and tools to identify, verify, and counter fake news. By focusing on real-world applications, it promoted flexible and innovative learning experiences, accessible to all media professionals. At the individual level, the project aimed to enhance journalistic quality by introducing advanced verification methods, supporting professionals in adapting to the demands of the digital era. At the organizational level, it supported media partners in building internal capacity for fact-checking, integrating these practices into daily workflows. For academic institutions the goal was to upgrade their training portfolios through cross-border collaboration. Resources such as the “Fact-Checking Starter Pack” and the video series “Introduction to Hands-on Fact-Checking” provided open-access learning content to ensure continued upskilling. Overall, the project aimed to raise standards, support digital transformation and create impact across the European media landscape.<< Implementation >>The project implemented a wide range of activities coordinated by the University of Athens (UoA), including overall project coordination, and budget management. Several online and in-person transnational meetings were held to ensure coordination, monitor progress, and facilitate knowledge exchange. Initially the project website was developed and the communication and dissemination strategies were created. A core achievement was the design, development, delivery, and evaluation of the “Fact-Checking Academy for Journalists”, a 6-week training programme, and the creation of the free English-language MOOC “Introduction to Hands-on Fact-Checking”. The “Fact-Checking Starter Pack” was also produced as a practical guide designed to support journalists in fact-checking and source verification processes, and a Community of Practice was set up on the EPALE platform. Media partners (Liquid Media, ANA-MPA, APA, and APImprensa) actively participated in the training sessions and evaluations, engaging over 200 journalists across Greece, Austria, and Portugal. They also produced media literacy podcasts and contributed to the project’s dissemination through press releases, articles, and videos. << Results >>The project produced several concrete and impactful results. The project launched a website and maintained active social media accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Bluesky to support dissemination, and engagement.A “Fact-Checking Academy” was successfully implemented in all partner countries, training over 200 journalists with high levels of engagement and satisfaction. A dedicated Community of Practice was established on the EPALE platform. A publicly accessible series of short, introductory videos, titled “Introduction to Hands-on Fact-Checking” was published on the EPALE platform, offering essential fact-checking skills to a broader audience. The “Fact-Checking Starter Pack”, a downloadable practical guide with tools and resources essential for effective news verification practices, was produced. Additionally, media literacy campaigns led to the production of 8 podcasts, reaching over 500 listeners. Finally, national multiplier events were organized in all partner countries with more than 80 participants in each country.