The 12th WFD "Democracy and Diversity - Can We Transcend the Divides?" examined democracy’s ability to balance differences while addressing the risks posed by disinformation, divisive narratives, and declining citizen engagement. Strategies to combat the harmful effects of fake news on public opinion and democratic stability were among the three core issues raised and discussed during the event.
The Council of Europe Project “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Media in Ukraine” (SFEM-UA) supported the participation of two Ukrainian Public Broadcasting Company (UA:PBC) representatives: Alyona Golyakova, Creative Producer at Suspilne’s Co-Productions and Outsource Commissioning Department, and Maria Frey, Board Member responsible for news and regional broadcasting.
According to one of the Reykjavík Principles for Democracy, independent journalism and media are instrumental in debunking disinformation and maintaining trust in democratic institutions. “Council of Europe supports the independent public service media like Suspilne because of the important role they play in countering disinformation, promoting quality journalism, and building trust in democracy”, said Alina Tatarenko, Head of the Division for Co-operation on Freedom of Expression.
The Ukrainian-produced documentary series “Big Russian Lie” was showcased at the Forum, stressing the efforts to combat Russian propaganda. Alyona Golyakova emphasised, “Our main goal is to fight against post-truth created by fakes and manipulations spread by the aggressor country for years.”
Following the screening, a discussion addressed the media’s role in countering disinformation, particularly in the context of Russia’s targeted information campaigns against Ukraine. Maria Frey encouraged broader collaboration: “You can help share the truth about Ukraine by asking your public broadcasters to feature our open-access stories.”
The series, commissioned by Suspilne Kultura and created by Andriy Yeryomin's team, is available online and serves as a powerful tool in refuting Russian propaganda. Public broadcasting initiatives, like those, highlight the importance of joint efforts between governments, media, civil society, and international organisations in combating disinformation.
For more information and to view “Big Russian Lie”, visit Suspilne Kultura’s YouTube channel.
The Council of Europe Project “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Media in Ukraine” (SFEM-UA) is implemented by the Council of Europe Division for Co-operation on Freedom of Expression in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” 2023-2026.
