The academic and professional communities have a significant role in analyzing such phenomena. They are called upon to contribute to defining policies and strategies to deal with  fake news and disinformation not only in the field of journalism and media, but in the society as a whole. Academic community also has the responsibility to communicate the facts and reliable data obtained by rigorous research more transparently to the public. 

Scientists, researchers, media analysts, journalists, and civic activists are invited to join the conference in trying to explain:
 

Modern technologies have enabled the increasing use of news and information that are difficult to verify. As deliberate production of false information with the intention to influence public opinion, disinformation has largely influenced political, economic and social processes, e. g. elections, referenda, migrations, labor market, environmental pollution and climate change, vaccination, LGBT minorities, etc.

In the last few decades, a specific form of political regime (information autocracy) has emerged, where the manipulation of information in order to remain in office stands out as the central mechanism of government. Politicians, media, journalists (who increasingly violate the code of media ethics), and other social agents actively participate in maintaining such regimes. Moreover, the state supports tabloid media which violate the code of ethics and daily produce false news and disinformation.

How should society and the state react to these processes? Fact-checking organizations, of which there are only a few in the region of the Western Balkans and the post-communist Europe, regularly check the media content, but the results of their work usually remain out of reach of mainstream media and rarely reach citizens because of political control of the most popular media. Civic associations and social movements have a slightly stronger influence, but they reach a limited number of citizens.

Possible panels at the Conference:
 

To apply, please email your application that contains: the name and the affiliation, the title of your presentation, abstract (up to 200 words) and 3-5 keywords. 

Email: politicke.nauke.srbije@gmail.com; deadline: August 1, 2021

International organizing committee:

prof. Lejla Turčilo, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia & Hercegovina
prof. Igor Vobič, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
prof. Jelena Kleut, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
prof. Agnieszka Stępińska, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
prof. Marijana Grbeša, University of Zagreb, Croatia
prof. Aleksandra Krstić, University of Belgrade, Serbia