International Symposium on Disinformation Opens
Combating Disinformation Fundamental to Progress of Humanity

The International Symposium on Media and Disinformation opened in Halifax July 1, to analyse and discuss the problem of disinformation, its significance and how to contend with it. Participants had been welcomed the evening before in true Nova Scotian style, with bagpipes, songs in Gaelic, welcoming chants from the Mi'kmaq and a meal provided by the Muslim Student Association. Remarks from the Symposium’s organizers captured the concern of all by emphasizing that the work being taken up on disinformation is a defining issue, fundamental to the progress of humanity. Despite the chilly evening, the enthusiasm of participants was such that discussion began immediately on numerous aspects of the problem, such as the impact of disinformation on the struggles of the people, the experience in developing new media that provides information and getting information and analysis broadly disseminated.

Arriving at the morning session, one felt the discussions must have carried on through the night. The eagerness of all to go more deeply into the problem of disinformation and develop independent media continued unabated. The conference took the decision to devote its introductory session to having participants address why they came, their expectations and their own experience. As speaker after speaker, workers, academics, native peoples, Quebecers, youth, journalists, radio hosts, 40 in all that morning, joined the discussion several things became apparent. The first was that together those gathered brought a wealth of experience, knowledge, expertise and work to tackle with the problem of disinformation, repeatedly identified as a profound problem confronting humanity. Second was that all were active in struggles covering a broad range of issues and had their feet on the ground when it came to analyzing reality as it exists. Third was the common experience of contending with the existing media, which refuses to address the concerns of the people, and provide basic information, whether it be on mass demonstrations of millions, community events, or any local, national or international developments. Fourth was the excitement and energy with which people discussed their own work, in radio, print, internet and video, on campuses, in communities, and nationally and internationally. The significance of all this work in combating disinformation and enabling people to think about problems and discuss how to solve them became more and more apparent as one after the other discussed how disinformation served to divert and block people from making advances.

A number of themes emerged in the course of discussion concerning the modus operande (MO) of disinformation. These included: the wall of silence in the media on critical issues, preventing people from knowing the facts and context of developments; the exclusion, firing and persecution of journalists and others who take a stand for the truth and oppose disinformation; the use of false starting points, which block identification of how the problem poses itself in real life while presenting pro and con arguments that serve to divide people; the lowering of the level of journalism such that people do not want to even watch TV or read their papers; the blocking of the information required to analyze a problem and the role of the media in pushing the practice of reaching conclusions with no analysis.

Another theme was the great sentiment to ensure that the work against disinformation continues and to give this common work organized expression. The need to provide information and get it widely disseminated was identified as critical. Among the proposals were developing a list of speakers from those present for use by all the radio programs so that their work and expertise can be made available more widely, and a list of reliable WebPages for information. Those involved in radio discussed together during breaks to further share work and develop means to assist each other. More generally the proposal was made for a standing committee to continue the work of the symposium and to develop a “moving feast” to organize similar symposiums across the country. Another was for those present to think of themselves as a people’s legislature, representing the people and taking up providing communiqués on stands needed to assist and unite the people.
As the session ended, all were adamant that the work started by this symposium be strengthened and advanced and that this not be left to chance.

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