Brisbane hosts Disinfo Pacific Regional conference on information integrity
Brisbane, Australia – The Disinfo Pacific conference, held on November 11 and 12 at Griffith University's SouthBank campus, brought together delegates from Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific region to discuss the importance of information integrity. The event focused on three critical areas: democracy and elections, climate crisis, and public health.
The conference commenced with an opening ceremony featuring prominent speakers, including Professor Juliet Pietsch, Head of the School of Government and International Relations at Griffith University, and Damian Cardona Onses, UNIC Pacific Director. The Honorable Curtis Pitt MP and H.E. Gabriele Visentin, European Union Ambassador to Australia, also addressed attendees, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to combat misinformation.
Key Discussions and Workshops
Day one featured a series of panels and breakout sessions. Notable discussions included a workshop on using media literacy to combat disinformation led by Assoc. Prof. Tanya Notley and Dr. Aimee Hourigan. Participants were trained in techniques to enhance media literacy and detect misinformation.
Another significant session was the panel on safeguarding elections from disinformation, moderated by Dr. Ferran Martinez i Coma. Panelists included electoral officials from Fiji, Queensland, and Samoa, who shared insights on strategies to maintain electoral integrity amidst rising misinformation threats.
On the second day, discussions shifted towards climate change and public health. A keynote speech by The Honorable Tanya Plibersek MP highlighted the importance of truthful communication in environmental policy. Panels addressed how disinformation affects climate action and public health responses, featuring experts from various organizations including WHO and UNESCO.
The conference also introduced a regional Disinfo Pacific Atlas still in the process, which will map the information integrity capabilities across the Pacific and promote the establishment of collaborative networks.
Voices from the Pacific
Interviews conducted during the conference revealed valuable perspectives from participants representing Tonga and the Cook Islands.
Folau Hola Mafi, Risk Communications and Community Engagement (RCCE) Coordinator for the Ministry of Health in Tonga, expressed that attending this conference was enlightening. "This is my first time presenting and attending a conference on disinformation," she said.
Folau emphasized that misinformation is a daily challenge in her work. "We learn from each other how to tackle disinformation effectively," she noted, highlighting the importance of cooperation among Pacific nations to share experiences and develop effective communication strategies.
Ana Tiraa, an Accredited Entity Advisor from the Cook Islands, echoed similar sentiments. "The conference was really interesting; it covered topics I hadn't really thought about before," she stated.
Ana emphasized the necessity of clarity in messaging amidst the overwhelming flow of information on social media. "Simplicity and honesty are the best approach when trying to convey accurate information," she added.
A Collaborative Path Forward
Both Folau and Ana highlighted the significance of collaboration in combating misinformation. Folau mentioned that addressing misinformation requires not only internal strategies but also professional communication with families and communities. "It's about creating policies that engage our communities effectively," she explained.
Ana pointed out that understanding disinformation's impact on social media is vital for her role. "We need to be prepared for criticisms when we share information online," she said, recognizing that misinformation often spreads rapidly through digital platforms.
The Disinfo Pacific conference concluded with a call to action for participants to implement learned strategies within their communities while strengthening ongoing collaboration across sectors to address misinformation effectively.
As misinformation continues to pose significant threats in the Pacific region, events like these play a crucial role in building resilience and promoting information integrity.
The two-day event was made possible through the collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre for the Pacific, Griffith University, and co-sponsored by the European Union. (By Samantha Iyar)
