Capacity-Building Program: Latinos, Media, and Democracy (The Periodistas Edition)

Program Details

• The Periodistas Edition of the DDIA Latinos, Media and Democracy program is an 8-week training program designed to support journalists and content producers with the tools and knowledge they need to understand, cover, and counter disinformation in Latino communities in the United States.
• Participants will be given the opportunity to learn from and engage with experts from a variety of disciplines, and will take part in briefings and workshops on topics ranging from disinformation trends to practical investigative techniques to strategic storytelling.
• In Session 0, which will be held in person, in Washington, D.C, participants will delve into key polling, focus-group, and narrative findings on Latino engagement with disinformation and effective countermeasures. Subsequent sessions, taking place online between mid-May and early July, 2024, will cover topics such as safely investigating hate and disinformation networks, understanding tactics used to misinform, and exploring AI tools for tracking and debunking false narratives.
• Participants will also receive key data on the U.S. Latino voting behaviors, media consumption trends, and the importance of depolarization techniques in fostering constructive dialogue online.
• Optional add-on sessions provide further opportunities for skill development, including fact-checking methodologies and understanding electoral integrity policies in the social media environment.
• At the end of the 8-week period, participants will be asked to produce at least one piece of content using tools, techniques or strategies learned during the program.

Program Expectations and Time Commitment

• Be ready to dedicate at least 16 hours of time to the program between May and July 2024, being present (virtually or in person) in all sessions scheduled (in advance) by DDIA
• Commit to producing and publishing at least one piece of content inspired by at least one of the lessons learned during the program, besides measuring its impact
• Commit to filling out pre- and post-session surveys as part of DDIA’s measurement and evaluation requirements

Eligibility Criteria

• Participants of the periodistas edition of the DDIA Latinos, Media and Democracy Program must fit into at least one of the categories described below:
  • Be a U.S.-based journalists covering politics or elections in the United States
  • Be a Latin America-based journalist covering the 2024 elections in the United States
  • Be a U.S.-based journalist covering entertainment, tech or social media
  • Be a U.S.-based journalist covering specific states or cities
  • Be a media content producer based in the United States or in Latin America producing content for YouTube or TikTok channels that are geared at Latinos
• Participants should be journalists or content producers with 1-5 years of experience, who are fluent in English (and preferably also Spanish or Portuguese), and are working with/for the Latino community in 2024. Skills, attributes, and experiences that may be particularly relevant to this program include:
  • Interest in the intersections of politics, election, democracy and disinformation
  • Interest in investigating and/or researching how disinformation circulates among Latinos and how (if) it impacts on their behavior
  • Interest in learning new tools and techniques to improve their reporting/content production
  • Interest in participating in a emerging cohort of Latino-centered content producers
  • Knowledge, networks, or experience related to issues affecting Latinos across the United States and the hemisphere.
  • Access to Google Meet for the period of the program.

For more information, visit DDIA.