WIRES-CROSSED

WIRES-CROSSED project deals with the issue of fake news. Nowadays, fake news is an umbrella term used to describe inaccuracies in media reporting, but also to discredit news presenting viewpoints contrary to someone’s opinion. Media manipulation and the spread of fake news online are dangerous because in that way individuals and communities may form narrow-minded opinions, while also refusing to accept any criticism thereof.

Fake news is a cause of division between communities. By observing the world around us, we can see how much it has shaped society. As the popularity of online media outlets increased, so have citizens began to be more concerned about the spread of disinformation via media promoting fake news. Research has shown that 83% of Europeans believe fake news to be a threat to democracy, while 73% of Internet users are concerned about the spread of disinformation prior to elections (Flash Eurobarometer 464; Special Eurobarometer 477).

The main goal of the fake news apparatus spread by media outlets, radical, and populistic groups around the world is to spread disinformation among followers and promote discord and division within communities. Spreading of fake news is not a conspiracy – it is a tried technique used by far right and far left broadcasters, as well as radical groups such as ISIS, and populist movements to instigate their political and social agendas. A study on the use of media outlets by ISIS to promote radicalisation of youth has determined that ISIS’ central command is supervised by 6 media departments, of which each specialises in a different area (video, text, photography, audio, visual graphics, and translation). These 6 departments provide media content for 38 media offices around the world (Sikorskaya, 2017).

Fake news is a real problem; it is not spread sporadically by individuals, but rather by a sophisticated global mechanism designed for information warfare through the use of the Internet and media outlets. As such, fake news influences different communities. We need to support these communities and empower them to combat the spread of fake news.

The focus of the WIRES-CROSSED project is on the development of skills that help regular people deal with the stress and demands of today’s society through minimization of the effects of fake news campaigns aimed at destabilizing the status quo. Its goal is to create a common media framework that would arm local communities with knowledge and competencies for the development, management and sustainment of a comprehensive media service for the local populace.