The misinformation surrounding the protests against health measures and the war in Ukraine demonstrates the extent to which media literacy is lacking in Quebec, an issue that the Professional Federation of Journalists of Quebec is tackling this week.
“People no longer know what to believe and who to believe. They make democratic choices based on misinformation,” says Michaël Nguyen, president of the Professional Federation of Journalists of Quebec (FPJQ) and legal reporter for the Journal.
The demonstrations in Ottawa last February demonstrated the virulence with which individuals rejected the traditional media out of hand.
This is why the FPJQ is holding Press and Media Week, which will discuss fake news and trust in journalists, in particular.
“Social networks must step up efforts to counter widespread disinformation and hate speech,” notes Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day today.
The war in Ukraine, which began a few days after the events in the federal capital, demonstrated in its own way the importance of a free press.
“Russian propaganda uses media channels which at the time could produce real information, but which have been instrumentalized by the authorities for the purposes of disinformation,” says Mr. Nguyen.
media education
The FPJQ wants to strengthen trust in traditional media by teaching people the difference between real news and fake news, in particular.
To do this, she recently experimented with media training as part of a college philosophy course.
“We have to consider that it enters the school curriculum. It makes for better informed citizens, who vote with full knowledge of the facts and based on the right premises,” explains Mr. Nguyen.
“For a healthy democracy, it is time for the federal government to act to control social networks, to put beacons and force these companies to stop disseminating false information. […] Facebook, Google, Twitter, do they have journalists? What do they bring to Quebec democracy? he continues.
In response, Ottawa tabled a bill last month aimed at forcing Internet giants to redistribute a share of the profits made on the backs of the media.
- Press and Media Week continues until Sunday. Conferences, some of which are online, are presented free of charge. For more details: www.semainedelapresse.com