Opportunities for action

Call for applications and expressions of interest:  WHO Civil Society Commission

The launch of the World Health Organization (WHO) Civil Society Commission will take place in mid-2023, around the time of the World Health Assembly, appropriately also marking the WHO75 celebrations. The commission, a WHO network consisting of a Steering Committee, a general meeting and working groups, has been called to strengthen dialogue, foster collaboration, and provide recommendations to support WHO in its engagement with civil society at global, regional and national levels to achieve health for all and accelerate attainment of health-related SDGs. Organizations and networks that have been accepted to participate in the WHO Civil Society Commission or have completed their application process can apply to the Steering Committee. This is a critical opportunity for eligible infodemic managers to strengthen partnerships with civil society and work on building trust!

To read the full call for applications for the WHO Civil Society Commission Participation, it’s here. To read the full EOI for the Steering Committee and apply, it’s here. The deadline to apply is 10 March 2023.

Call for applications: Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity 2024 cohort 

The Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity program at George Washington University is now accepting applications to the 2024 cohort. The one-year fellowship program aims to develop global leaders who understand the foundations of health inequity and have the knowledge, skills, and courage to build more equitable organizations and communities. The program is happy to receive applications from people involved in health-related work from sectors beyond traditional healthcare and public health, as well as those working in healthcare delivery. Infodemic managers looking for an opportunity to build comprehensive knowledge of national and global health disparities should consider applying!

To read about the program and apply, it’s here. The deadline to apply is 10 April 2023.  

To register for an informational webinar on 9 March 2023, it’s here.

Call for papers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies (IJPS) issue on partnership and innovation

The second issue of the Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies (IJPS) in 2023 which will explore and celebrate the relationship between partnership and innovation is now accepting submissions. IJPS is seeking innovations that advance science, technology, and invention; innovations supporting individuals or organizations; social, business, government and or policy innovations; and innovations that improve design, remove barriers, build inclusivity, and increase accessibility. As an innovation leader for a national nursing organization, the innovation focus of IJPS is around the innovative work being led by nurses across the nursing profession, innovations across healthcare, and innovations supporting and advancing health. Infodemic managers have a lot to contribute to this topic and should consider contributing!

To read the call for papers and submit, it’s here. The deadline to submit is 15 August 2023.  

Multimedia

The Global Youth Mobilization 'Unstoppable Together' virtual event: Profile on youth-led projects

On 15 February 2023, the Global Youth Mobilization virtual event ‘Unstoppable Together’ did a stock take of youth-led solution projects. Profiling young people leading solutions to control the spread of COVID-19 and combat misinformation, one particular session highlighted the achievements of three youth-led projects followed by insights from thematic experts, including Tina Purnat from WHO. Have a look to see the encouraging work that the youth projects have done in their communities!

You can watch a replay of the event above or on the Global Youth Mobilization YouTube channel.

Recode Media podcast with Peter Kafka: Writer Rex Sorgatz

In this old episode of Recode Media with Peter Kafka, writer Rex Sorgatz talked about his book, “The Encyclopedia of Misinformation: A Compendium of Imitations, Spoofs, Delusions, Simulations, Counterfeits, Impostors, Illusions, Confabulations, Skullduggery, Frauds, Pseudoscience, Propaganda, Hoaxes, Flimflam, Pranks, Hornswoggle, Conspiracies & Miscellaneous Fakery.” This book, published in 2018, predates the COVID-19 pandemic and it is interesting to hear about these concepts and conversation out of the context of the last few years. Have a listen to hear the ideas and motivation behind the book!

You can listen to the podcast and read the full transcript on the Vox website.

Job opportunities

• Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University Project Director for Ethical Tech Research (USA)  Open 
• NEW Busara Vice-President – Projects (Nigeria or India) Open 
• NEW Busara Analyst – Latin America (Colombia, Mexico or Costa Rica) Open 
• European Fact Checking Standards Network Coordinator (Europe – remote) Closing 20 March 2023 
• NEW Global Disinformation Index Research Associate (Australia) Open 
• Johns Hopkins University Research Program Coordinator (USA) Open 
• Max Planck Institute PhD or PostDoc on Pandemics - Infodemics (Germany) Closing 30 April 2023 
• NEW National Democratic Institute (NDI) Information Environment Long-Term Analyst (Nigeria) Open 
• PATH Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) Advisor, Targeted and Tailored COVID-19 vaccination (Ethiopia) Open 
• Syracuse University Post Doc - DARPA Semafor Research Program in Misinformation and Disinformation (United States) Open 
• NEW UNICEF Chief, Social & Behavior Change (Nigeria) Closing 03 March 2023 
• NEW UNICEF Social & Behavior Change Officer (Kyrgyzstan) Closing 06 March 2023 
• NEW UNICEF Immunization Social & Behavior Change Specialist (Congo-Brazzaville) Closing 10 March 2023 
• NEW UNICEF External Outreach :Information Management Officer, Rapid Response Rosters (Eastern and Southern Africa Region) Closing 13 March 2023 
• NEW UNICEF  Internal & External Vacancy Announcement : Social & Behavior Change Officer (Mali) Closing 06 March 2023 
• NEW UNICEF  Readvertisement: Internal and External Vacancy Announcement: Social & Behavior Change Officer (South Sudan) Closing 09 March 2023 
• NEW  WHO Specialist, Communications (Haiti) Closing 8 March 2023 

Upcoming Events

Nobel Prize Summit on countering misinformation and building trust in science

To help build a more peaceful, prosperous, resilient, and sustainable future informed by science and evidence, the Nobel Foundation and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences are joining forces to present the second Nobel Prize Summit Truth, Trust and Hope which will be held online and in-person in Washington, D.C. from 24-26 May 2023. The event will convene Nobel Prize laureates and other experts, information technology and business leaders, policymakers, journalists, educators, and youth from around the world to engage in constructive dialogue on actively combating the spread of mis- and disinformation, share evidence-based knowledge and global experiences, and help restore trust and confidence in science, institutions, and systems of society. This event is sure to be of interest to infodemic managers!

To learn more about the summit which will be held from 24-26 May 2023 and register, it's here.   Registration opens mid-March.

Conference and webinars: Cambridge Disinformation Summit

The Cambridge Disinformation Summit will be held this year on 27-28 July 2023. The summit will convene global thought leaders from psychology, journalism, financial reporting, political science, and related information science fields to discuss: the societal impact of strategic disinformation; methods used to disseminate disinformation; the psychology of self-deception and willful ignorance; why disinformation is effective at changing human behavior; and cross-discipline and sustainable ways to mitigate disinformation efficacy. The summit also produces a webinar series. You can find January’s webinar in the ‘Events Replay’ section below and we will continue to feature these events in the News Flash! 

The next webinar on “Social media and financial news manipulation research” will be held on 2 April 2023.To register for and find future events, it’s here.

To find out more about the summit and register, it’s here. The deadline to apply for the online event is 30 June 2023. The deadline to apply for the in-person event is 27 June 2023.

Did you miss previous events?

Panel discussion on report: 'Turning social listening data into action: barriers and recommendations from the COVID-19 response' 

The increased attention on social listening methodologies, Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) and infodemic management during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a variety of social listening outputs that are produced by humanitarian and health organizations and disseminated at the national, regional, and global level. However, there is a gap in evidence when it comes to the actual impacts of its utilization. At this event on 14 February 2023, Internews presented the main findings of the report aimed at identifying the impacts of, and barriers to, the effective use of social listening data in the COVID-19 response. A panel of speakers including infodemic managers from the African Infodemic Response Alliance, Ground Truth Solutions and IFRC joined to discuss the recent report and strategies to mitigate the obstacles faced and ensure more effective and community-led responses. You can watch the replay on the Internews Youtube channel.

NASEM Committee on Understanding and Addressing Misinformation about Science, Meeting #2

The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) Committee on Understanding and Addressing Misinformation about Science held a virtual information gathering session on 22 February 2022. During the meeting, panelists Sacha Altay, University of Oxford, and Kelly Born, Packard Foundation, discussed interventions against misinformation in online and offline environments, including an overview of different efforts employed and differential strategies for addressing misinformation versus disinformation. You can watch the replay and register for future information-gathering sessions of the committee on the NASEM website.

Jesus College webinar: Enhancing vaccine uptake in an age of COVID-19

Public health experts, leaders, and governments must understand the impediments to vaccine uptake in order to develop strategies that go beyond conventional interventions to address low vaccination rates. In collaboration with the Intellectual Forum, Jesus College, Cambridge, the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, and the University of Sydney, the Global Health Security Network released a policy report authored by Dr Kerrie Wiley and Professor Julie Leask that examines the challenges and strategies to increase vaccine uptake. At this virtual event on 07 February 2023, Professor Michelle Williams, Dean of the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health officially launched the report and discussed its implications for public health professionals and the wider community. You can watch the replay on the Jesus College website.

PHIRI/EUPHA roundtable discussion: The change in demand and consumption of health information

There has been an unprecedented thirst for and avid consumption of health information (data and knowledge) during the COVID-19 pandemic. On 27 January 2023, PHIRI and EUPHA hosted a roundtable discussion with four panelists with different perspectives to discuss the opportunities and threats posed by this new reality and on the ways to improve preparedness and health information systems in Europe. Panelists presented their diverse experiences with this change of consumption of health information during the COVID-19 crisis, the lessons learned or good practices they have identified, and what can be improved and set up for the future European Health Data Space and Health Information System. You can watch the replay on the EU Health Information System Unit YouTube channel.

CEACR Speaker Series event: Caring for the caregivers in community-partnered research & considerations for research reciprocity

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, professional scientists turned to diverse frontline workers to increase participation in research, especially in communities where trust has eroded. Community partners have guided professional scientists to integrate strategies for inclusive participation, language equity, and culturally responsive recruitment, retention, and dissemination. Those working on the frontlines have witnessed multiple crises, highlighted profound structural inequities, and experienced multiple losses in their communities. On 27 January 2023, the Community Engagement Alliance Consultative Resource (CEACR) invited panelists to discuss what meaningful support and care for team members in community-engaged research look like, beyond equitable compensation and provision of resources, and how to strengthen reciprocity and honor the need to care for the caregiver. You can watch the replay on the EU Health Information System Unit YouTube Channel.

News Literacy Project webinar: Your brain and misinformation: why people believe lies and conspiracy theories

Our brains do marvelous things, but they also make us vulnerable to falsehoods. Why? What leads people to fall for misinformation? And why do they share it with others? On 26 January 2023, during the fourth annual National News Literacy Week, the News Literacy Project and the American Psychological Association presented a conversation to untangle the threads in our heads and hearts that can cause us to accept and spread falsehoods, even when we should know better. Peter Adams, senior vice president of research and design at the News Literacy Project, spoke with Dr. Sander van der Linden, director of the Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab and author of “Foolproof: Why We Fall for Misinformation and How to Build Immunity” for this virtual event. You can watch the replay on the News Literacy Project YouTube Channel.

Cambridge Disinformation Summit webinar series: Wilful ignorance, delusion-like beliefs, and conspiracy theories featuring Dr. Joe Pierre, MD

Strategic disinformation is a malignant accelerant for major societal problems such as climate change denial, the rise and sustenance of extremism, radicalization of terrorism, criminal fraud, and suppression of rights. It is exploited across all information dissemination platforms, including social media, news media, financial and non-financial reporting, and other broadcast vehicles. The Cambridge Disinformation Summit webinar series brings together thought leaders to discuss these issues and how to move forward. In this moderated discussion, Dr. Joseph Pierre, MD, Health Sciences Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and expert on delusion-like beliefs and conspiracy theories gives an overview of divergent beliefs, why they are so resistant, who is vulnerable, what works in reaching these individuals and what’s next on the horizon. You can watch the replay on the Cambridge Disinformation Summit Youtube channel.

You can find more information on future events on the Cambridge Disinformation Summit website.

Training

Log-in2learn webinar: 'The science of trust: implications for public health research and practice'

The Region 2 Public Health Training Center is holding their next Log-in2Learn live webinar on 7 March 2024. The webinar, which has been approved for Category I Continuing Education Credit for CHES/MCHES by the Rutgers School of Public Health, and for Certified in Public Health (CPH) credit by the Region 2 Public Health Training Center, will be led by Renata Schiavo PhD, MA, CCL, from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. After the webinar, participants will be able to: list key determinants of trust and trustworthiness at the community, population, and patient levels; discuss the impact of trust and mistrust on behavioral and social outcomes as related to a variety of health topics; and describe implications of “the science of trust” for public health research and practice. This is an excellent continuous learning opportunity for infodemic managers! 

To find out more about the webinar and register, it’s here. The event will be livestreamed.

Mayo Clinic online CME course: 'COVID-19: Countering an “infodemic” of misinformation'

Misinformation and disinformation can create distrust, impede medical discovery, and undermine the patient-provider relationship. Mayo Clinic is currently offering an online Continuing Medical Education (CME) course for healthcare providers and professionals who need to understand the impact of misinformation and disinformation on healthcare decision making and patients’ beliefs. Disinformation and misinformation prevalence, impact and projected trends are discussed, as well as strategies for responding to misinformation during the medical encounter. This is a good opportunity for infodemic managers who work in clinical settings and their networks to build knowledge and skills!

To find out more about the online course and register, it’s here. The course is currently available until 28 October 2023. 

The European Science-Media Hub (ESMH) summer school for young journalists: ‘Storytelling in science’ at EYE2023

The European Science-Media Hub (ESMH) is seeking applicants to become one of 80 young journalists aged between 18 and 30, to attend the summer school “Storytelling in science” (6-8 June 2023) and this year’s European Youth Event (EYE2023, 9-10 June 2023) in Strasbourg, France. The 5-day summer school is a side event of EYE2023 that will consist of media workshops, hands-on media production and debates to learn more about science journalism and science communication. Participants will interact with high-level European politicians, professional journalists and experts and engage in intercultural exchange on science and technology. Share this opportunity to promote media engagement among youth in your networks!

To find out more about the program and apply, it’s here. The deadline is 12 March 2023.

What we're reading

Fun with numbers

578

… is the number of new characters proposed for Emoji 15.1 release in 2023. 

The proposed phoenix emoji is our favorite! 

If you want to nerd out on the latest emoji research, see Emoji2022: The Fifth International Workshop on Emoji Understanding and Applications in Social Media. For more information: Source