Countering Disinformation Training for Vernacular Language Journalists

The U.S. Department of States Consulate General of the United States in Hyderabad announces an open competition to implement a program, Countering Disinformation Training for Vernacular Language Journalists, in four consular regions and the embassy region. Based on funding availability, this project will provide 20 to 25 journalists in five regional languages of Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Bengali, and Hindi from media outlets and digital platforms in Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, and New Delhi with 18-month-long, hands-on training in countering disinformation, consulting multiple sources, and utilizing fact checking resources. This project will build skills among local language journalists to verify news, views, photos, and videos prior to release. This project will also help build a network of responsible journalists in India who will advocate for fact checking, and recognize that the need to build audience trust outweighs being first to break the news.