The final conference of the project “Identifying and Exposing Disinformation – New Technologies, Experience, and Knowledge as Tools” was held at the Zagreb School of Economics and Management (ZSEM). The conference presented the key results achieved, the objectives fulfilled, and the contributions of all project partners.
Within the framework of the Public Call “Establishing Media Fact-Checking and a Public Data Disclosure System” issued by the Agency for Electronic Media (reference number: NPOO C1.1.1. R6-I2), non-refundable funds were awarded to the Zagreb School of Economics and Management and its partners for the implementation of the project “Identifying and Exposing Disinformation – New Technologies, Experience, and Knowledge as Tools.”
The project partners included the Zagreb University of Applied Sciences (TVZ), Pametna kuća d.o.o. – the Srednja.hr portal, the Multimedia Association / Radio 808, and the Zagreb School of Economics and Management (project lead).
The final conference was opened by the Dean of the Zagreb School of Economics and Management, Assoc. Prof. Mato Njavro, PhD, who emphasized the exceptional importance of verifying information accuracy and combating disinformation in contemporary society. He thanked all partners for their successful cooperation and highlighted that ZSEM is currently implementing several projects funded by European Union resources, noting that this particular project plays a crucial role in strengthening media literacy, fact-checking, and a critical approach to information, especially among young people.
On behalf of the project lead, the Zagreb School of Economics and Management, the achievement of project goals was presented by project manager Karmela Aleksić Maslać and portal editor Prof. Kristijan Krkač, PhD. During the project implementation, ZSEM conducted training sessions for all members of the project team, organized workshops on media literacy and fact-checking, and hosted public panel discussions open to the wider public.
Students of ZSEM and the Zagreb University of Applied Sciences (TVZ), as well as lecturers and journalists from partner media outlets, participated in all educational activities related to information verification, ensuring a strong interdisciplinary approach to combating disinformation. The project website “Lažna uzbuna” was created, and students were actively involved in verifying information accuracy, thereby gaining practical knowledge and skills in the field of fact-checking.
On behalf of the project partner Zagreb University of Applied Sciences, the achieved goals were presented by Assoc. Prof. Lidija Tepeš Golubić, PhD and Prof. Jana Žiljak Gršić, PhD.
In addition to fact-checking workshops for students and media literacy workshops, TVZ organized educational lectures for students, lecturers, and journalists on the topics “When Does Disinformation Become Truth?” and “Possibilities and Methods for Verifying the Authenticity of Video Recordings and Photographs.”
On behalf of the project partner Multimedia Association / Radio 808, journalist Goran Pirš presented the achieved goals. As part of the project, the educational podcast series “Lažna uzbuna” was produced and broadcast, comprising 23 episodes released throughout 2024 and 2025.
Through conversations with more than 25 experts from journalism, science, and civil society, various aspects of disinformation were explored—from its impact on democratic processes and public health to the use of digital and AI tools in information verification. The series also presented relevant domestic and international fact-checking organizations, further strengthening the visibility of fact-checking in the public sphere.
The results of the Srednja.hr portal’s work were presented by journalist and executive editor Martina Gelenčir. Within the project, a total of 51 articles dedicated to disinformation and fact-checking were published, with a particular focus on young people and education professionals.
The content covered challenges faced by fact-checkers, basic terminology and types of disinformation, echo chambers and filter bubbles, and ways to recognize them. Additionally, three video materials aimed at younger audiences were produced. As a lasting project outcome, a brochure on disinformation was created and independently published on the Srednja.hr portal to ensure accessibility to all readers, making it a valuable resource for media literacy education.
Furthermore, a fact-checking methodology was developed, a dedicated project subpage was launched, and internal training sessions were conducted within the editorial teams of Srednja.hr, mirovina.hr, and bauštela.hr.
The Zagreb School of Economics and Management implemented the project in partnership with the Zagreb University of Applied Sciences (TVZ), the Srednja.hr portal, and the Multimedia Association / Radio 808. The project’s objective was to strengthen media literacy and societal resilience to disinformation through education, public information, and cooperation between academia, media, and civil society.
The final conference confirmed that the project successfully achieved its planned objectives and laid a strong foundation for the continuation of activities in the field of information verification and the development of a critical approach to media content.
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