The necessity of battling disinformation in crisis communication was covered on the second day of our Directorate's "Disaster Communication Symposium on the First Anniversary of the Disaster of the Century."
The symposium's second and last day at the Conference Hall of the Directorate began with a minute of silence in honour of the people who perished in the February 6, 2023, earthquakes, followed by a panel discussion on "Combating Disinformation in Crisis Communication." The opening speech of the panel, moderated by İdris Kardaş, Coordinator of the Center for Combating Disinformation, was delivered by Anadolu Agency (AA) Türkiye News Director Hüseyin Yılmaz.
Yılmaz stated that during the earthquakes on February 6, disinformation was largely prevented by the use of a single source and frequent announcements. He also mentioned that the Anadolu Agency has subsequently worked hard to disseminate the truth to the public. Yılmaz stated that the Anadolu Agency's Fact Check Line looked over about 1,300 news items in 2023 and that during times of crisis, disinformation grows and it is crucial to look into dubious material and confirm its veracity.
Marmara University Faculty Member Prof. Ali Murat Kırık, Istanbul University Faculty Member Prof. Seda Mengü, and Sivas Cumhuriyet University Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Onur Taydaş also gave speeches at the symposium.
