The Disinformation Diaries: A Global Conversation from Zimbabwe to Indonesia

The Disinformation Diaries continues its journey around the world, exploring one essential question: how can we protect the integrity of information in an increasingly fragmented and complex media environment? Co-produced by DCN Global and journalist, author, and educator Alexandre Le Voci Sayad, the 50-episode web series brings together voices from different countries and professional backgrounds to examine disinformation not simply as a problem of “fake news,” but as a challenge involving journalism, trust, education, technology, culture, democracy, and access to reliable information.

Episode 9 – Are African Narratives Reaching the World? | The Disinformation Diaries

In this episode, the Zimbabwean educator and technology advocate Aurra Kawanzaruwa explains that youth voices across Africa are frequently misunderstood by decision-makers. She advocates for a two-pronged approach to media literacy that educates both young people and older leaders, while drawing on the traditional philosophy of Ubuntu—which she frames as an ancient, human-centered form of machine learning—to adapt modern technologies to local community needs.

Episode 10 – Can National Associations Fight Disinformation? | The Disinformation Diaries

Pascal, founder of Eduk Media and African representative in the UNESCO MIL Alliance, Andzongo Blaise Pascal, details how his organization was created in Cameroon to combat hate speech and digital disinformation through critical thinking training. Originating from research on how media influences body image perceptions among athletes, his work expanded across Central Africa and France, prompting his call for national public policies that embed media literacy into school curricula from an early age.

Episode 11 – Access to Information in a Vast and Diverse Indonesia | The Disinformation Diaries

Indonesian media literacy advocate Rut Silalahi explains to Alexandre Sayad the massive structural hurdles of delivering reliable information across thousands of remote islands. She highlights that true media literacy requires creating safe spaces where individuals can deconstruct personal biases, acknowledge mistakes, and open-mindedly discuss subjective truths.

Episode 12 – Can Media Literacy Strengthen South African Democracy? | The Disinformation Diaries

The South African AI ethicist and activist Rachel Fischer tells Alexandre Sayad how political corruption and state capture undermined democratic ideals by manipulating media outlets and draining funds from public education. Moving from university lecturing to grassroots activism, she emphasizes making information accessible to marginalized communities and utilizing digital literacy as an essential foundation for social equity.