“Do not spread information without checking its authenticity” – Danish journalist Leif Lonsmann in Ivano-Frankivsk

A media literacy workshop for future journalists and media professionals was held in Ivano-Frankivsk at King Daniel University. The trainer was Danish journalist Leif Lonsmann, editor-in-chief and director-general of the Danish national public broadcaster (DR). The workshop was attended, in particular, by the former president of the Norwegian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Amund Myklebust, assistant of the Ivano-Frankivsk Center for Journalistic Solidarity Bohdana Zasidko, IDP journalist, deputy editor-in-chief of the Kramatorsk newspaper Technopolis, lecturer at the Ukrainian University of Journalism Vira Iliyina, lecturers at the Department of Journalism, Advertising and Public Relations at the Ukrainian University of Journalism.

Before the workshop, a business conversation took place between domestic media professionals and a Danish colleague. The topic was the activities of the Journalists’ Solidarity Centers (JSC) network in Ukraine, particularly the work of the Ivano-Frankivsk JSC. They also discussed new challenges in the journalistic profession related to the full-scale war in Ukraine. They also agreed to hold a joint event in September of this year at the Ivano-Frankivsk JSC.

The workshop was developed by trainer Leif Lonsmann based on the presentation called True Media in Wartime. Using examples of information materials and photo reports, the Danish journalist taught those present to correctly analyze, think critically, and independently and independently assess the reliability of various stories, sources, and senders.

He told the workshop participants:

• what tools are there for recognizing fakes and how they work;
• how to check the origin and history of photo or video editing;
• how to distinguish between AI-generated content and real content.

“My main advice to you is that before you spread any information, you need to analyze it, check its reliability using appropriate tools, and only then spread it. Never spread information that you do not believe 100 percent to be true,” said Leif Lonsmann.

He also shared the life-hack methods that he uses in his journalistic work, particularly to identify fakes.

At the end of the workshop, Amund Myklebust, the former president of the Norwegian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, addressed the participants. He expressed his support for the Ukrainians during this difficult time. He noted that, despite everything, Ukraine is developing and has common values ​​with Europe.

The network of Journalists’ Solidarity Centers is an initiative of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, implemented in collaboration with the International and European Federations of Journalists and UNESCO and with the support of the People of Japan. Our primary goal is to assist media professionals working in Ukraine during the war. The Centers are active in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Lviv, and Ivano-Frankivsk. The project is part of UNESCO’s broader efforts to support the Safety of Journalists and Freedom of Expression in Ukraine.

Call the Ivano-Frankivsk JSC at 066 677 0726 (Viktoriya Plakhta, the coordinator of the Ivano-Frankivsk JSC). The Center’s address is 25 Sichovykh Striltsiv Street.

Ivano-Frankivsk JSC