On October 3rd and 4th, 2024, the Association for the Advancement of Journalistic Practices “Innovative Media – Skopje” organized a training for journalists on the topic of “Harmful Effects of Hate Speech in Media and Social Networks” in Skopje, as part of the project “Reporting Diversity Network – The New Agenda.”
The first day of the training introduced participants to the fundamental concepts of hate speech, clearly distinguishing it from defamation and insult. Journalists also explored the delicate balance between freedom of speech and the propagation of hate. Through engaging discussions and a valuable exchange of experiences, the critical role of journalists and editors in combatting hate speech was emphasized. Toward the end of the day, participants collaborated with the trainer and future mentor, brainstorming ideas for journalistic stories that could tackle the issue of hate speech head-on.
Day two shifted focus to the intersection of fake news, disinformation and hate speech. Participants delved into different types of disinformation, the nuances between harmful narratives and misleading content, and the dangerous overlap between disinformation and hate speech. The training concluded with an interactive session where journalists analyzed media content, working closely with the trainers to identify potential instances of hate speech or disinformation.
Reporting Diversity Network – The New Agenda project, which will run until March 2027, aims to advocate for an active civil society that counters divisive narratives, replacing them with positive discourse that fosters good neighborly relations and respect for social diversity. It also seeks to empower a regional network of civil society organizations (CSOs) to work together to improve the quality of media messages, influencing perceptions of ethnicity, religion, gender, and other diversity-related topics. These efforts are critical to promoting understanding and tolerance throughout the Western Balkans.
This project is funded by the European Union and the “SMART Balkans – Civil Society for Shared Society in the Western Balkans” regional project implemented by Centar za promociju civilnog društva (CPCD), Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM) and Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) and financially supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA).
