On May 21, 2021, a master class titled “How to Verify Information in Modern Media” was held at the Primakov Centre. The event was conducted by Oleg Dmitriev, an advisor at the Rossiya Segodnya media group and professor at the Faculty of Communications, Media, and Design of the National Research University Higher School of Economics.
Oleg Dmitriev engaged participants in an interactive format, allowing attendees to ask questions throughout the discussion. The topics covered included types of information, its sources, and methods for determining reliability. For instance, the lecturer categorized information into official statements, press service releases, and emergency service reports (police, alert centres).
Addressing audience questions, he highlighted common pitfalls in media, such as “copy-paste” (verbatim reproduction of unverified information), “grapevine” (distortion of facts during republication or translation from foreign languages), and “factoids” (unverified or deliberately false information presented as fact).
To assess the truthfulness of news, the speaker recommended identifying the primary source, finding an alternative source, and checking social media. He also shared tips for spotting fake news: typically, such stories violate cause-and-effect logic, present arguments that don’t support their claims, and draw conclusions disconnected from reality.
Using examples from major international events, Dmitriev demonstrated how deliberately false information had been exposed, supplementing these cases with analyses of news agencies’ responses and examining the semantic nuances in their reporting.
The lecturer also explained tools for evaluating the significance of news events for audiences. This involves assessing potential threats to human life and how the event might change people’s lives. He advised paying attention to the specific numbers, facts, and details that make an event important, noting that insufficient information about extreme events can trigger public anxiety and spread panic.
In response to audience questions, he outlined the stages of news perception: awareness, popularity, and declining interest. He emphasized the necessity for modern media to use illustrations and infographics to enhance information comprehension.
The session concluded with practical exercises where participants answered fundamental questions: identifying information sources, conflict parties, whether multiple perspectives exist on the event, and whether the message contains emotionally charged words that influence perception.
Photo: Anar Movsumov
Source: Samara University