Nowadays, practically everyone is exposed to disinformation. The spread of false, manipulated information is particularly stimulated by the development of mass media.
People are being misled on the Internet, television or radio and universal access to mass media means that false information spreads very quickly, creating panic, fear, anxiety and also directly leading to making wrong decisions - as intended by the disinformer.
A successful fight against disinformation requires, first and foremost, an awareness of the purpose of disinformation activities, the ability to distinguish verified, true information from fake news, and to gain knowledge only from verified sources. These skills, which are useful for every aware person nowadays, can be acquired at workshops run by the Mieroszewski Centre in cooperation with the leading polish fact-checking institutiton - Demagog Association.
Humbug is a fact-checking workshop addressed to teachers, which presents what disinformation is, what it is used for and how to effectively differentiate truth from manipulated information. The fight against disinformation is based primarily on making the public aware of techniques for spreading false information, recognising them and knowing how to choose reliable sources of information.
The knowledge gained in the workshops can then be passed on by teachers to their pupils, thus sensitising the younger generation not only to the dangers of disinformation, but also teaching them to differentiate between false information and the truth. Indeed, the fight against disinformation today requires knowledge, awareness of the dangers of disinformation, vigilance and broad commitment on the part of the public.
What does the word humbug mean?
It is a colloquial term for deception or trickery. The word humbug is often used to express doubt or scepticism about something that is perceived to be false. It can also be used to express disapproval of deceptive actions or practices. Humbug is also understood as a misrepresentation or dishonest action.
