Join us for the CIPR International AGM and Panel Debate on Mis and Disinformation

This year our AGM on 30 October precedes a hugely important topic of misinformation and disinformation, which is currently challenging public relations people worldwide. We shall be presenting this in two parts. The first one, on 30 October, looks at the global and national public and IGO/NGO sectors. The second (on 6 November) will focus on the challenges facing the media, agency and private sectors.

Every professional PR person knows about misinformation and disinformation, don’t they? The extent of it, who is behind it, how it is affecting organisations, governments, public sector, NGOs, private sector and communication consultancies and all the ecosystems that support them? It’s frightening, but it also offers huge opportunities for those who want to become trusted sources and to contribute to a healthy and safe information system.

This two-part webinar explores how deep and wide the issue is and what can be done about it. The two panels of world-leading experts will guide you through the complexities and leave you with some solid guidelines on how you can ensure you are wise to mis and disinformation, how to avoid being an unwitting contributor and how you can be a force for good in this challenging environment.

Panel on Combatting Mis and Disinformation Part 1

Professor Emeritus Anne Gregory will facilitate this session. We have four outstanding panellists on 30 October from whom our audience will learn so much.

• Laure Van Hauwaert, Executive Director for EU Institutions and Government, WPP Government and Public Sector Practice. Laure will focus on the big picture of mis/disinformation globally, citing WPP’s research and examples of the different issues and approaches around the world. She will also provide timely advice on when and how Government should react to mis/dis information and how AI tools are being developed to assist the public sector.
  

• Susanne Weber, Deputy Head of Department, Department IV/10: EU Communication and Strategy, Austrian Federal Chancellery Susanne will provide a cross-Europe perspective and examples on the challenges posed, the collaboration that is taking place in Europe to ensure communication from governments is kept safe, along with the measures being taken to combat mis/disinformation. She will also outline the EU’s efforts to ensure the public is educated about the dangers to democracy, society and as individuals.
  

• Simon Baugh, CEO, UK Government Communication Service, Cabinet Office. Simon will focus on the issues that mis/disinformation creates for Government, the steps the UK is taking to combat it and the actions they are striving to generate from citizens and other key players. Simon will also explain the publicly available guides and policies the UK has developed and that can be used by other public sector organisations.
  

• Olha Izhyk, Risk Communication and Infodemic Management Officer, WHO Health Security Division, WHO Regional Office for Europe Olha operates on the front line in health emergencies. She will explain how WHO deals with infodemic management and combats mis and disinformation in very practical terms and when being successful is literally a matter of life and death.

The formal part of our meeting, the AGM, will last from 11.30 to 12 noon GMT and the panel will join at noon to allow for the business part of the AGM to be completed, including the election of the 2026 committee. Do join us. We look forward to seeing you at the webinar!

Register here

Combatting Mis and Disinformation Worldwide Part 2

The second session in the two-part webinar series will take place on 6 November will focus on the challenges facing the media, agency and private sectors.

CIPR International committee member Steven Smith will facilitate this session. Our speakers are:

• Dr Tina McCorkindale, CEO, Institute of Public Relations (IPR) USA.

  The Institute of Public Relations is an independent nonprofit foundation which focuses on research that matters to the public relations profession. Tina will focus on the big picture of mis/disinformation, citing the IPR’s research on the rise of mis/disinformation, summarising the key threats, opportunities and responsibilities for PR professionals. She will also touch on the need for PR professionals to be much more ‘media source savvy’.
  

• Dimitris Dimitriadis, Global Director of Research and Development, NewsGuard Technologies.

  NewsGuard Technologies are dedicated to providing journalism and information to organisations that is reliable, and have a specific research focus on on-line information sources. Dimitris will provide an overview on the risks posed to the information ecosystem and how to mitigate them.
  

• Massimo Moriconi, General Manager Omnicom Public Relations Group Italy and incoming Chair of the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO).

  Massimo leads ICCO’s work on mis and dis information which culminated in the launch, in May this year, of its Global Digital Handbook aimed at preventing and fighting disinformation. Massimo will cover how the PR and communication consultancy world is addressing this issue.
  

• Boy Kelana Soebroto, Chief of Corporate Affairs of Astra, Indonesia, Chair of Perhumas, the Indonesian professional association for PR and Board Member of Global Alliance for Public Relations & Communication Management.

  Boy has responsibility for communication for one of Indonesia’s largest private sector organisations and is a leading public relations practitioner and corporate voice in the ASEAN region. Boy will provide an Asian perspective and an overview of some of the challenges all corporates are facing and how to advise on strategic responses.

  
  

Register here