Young people today navigate an information space shaped by algorithms, platforms and growing disinformation. At the same time, journalists, whose role is essential in verifying facts and ensuring access to reliable information are increasingly exposed to threats, harassment and intimidation. Where journalists are unsafe, disinformation spreads more easily, public trust declines and democratic participation weakens.
The initiative Youth Facing Disinformation – Why Journalists Matter, supported under the Monaco Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, places young people at the centre of efforts to defend freedom of expression, information integrity and democratic resilience.
Organised under the Council of Europe’s Journalists Matter Campaign, in cooperation with the Youth Department’s project Youth Revitalising Democracy, the Strasbourg event will bring together selected grantees, young participants, journalists, media creators, policymakers and experts. It will combine a high-level conference with thematic workshops on disinformation, media literacy, journalist safety and youth engagement.
The event will also provide a platform for selected grantees to present their projects, exchange with peers and experts, and explore visibility, dissemination and partnership opportunities. These discussions will support outreach and impact, while the funded projects remain fully defined and under the responsibility of the selected grantees