European Parliament Elections, Disinformation Campaigns Discussed on Day Two of Young Journalists' Training

Diana Dukovska, BTA correspondent Lilia Yordanova

Day Two of young journalists' training at BTA. Pictured: EP Press Officers in Bulgaria Kalina Varbanova (left) and Biliana Tzarnoretchka (right), October 29, 2024 (BTA Photo/Milena Stoykova)

Sofia,

29.10.2024 22:52

(BTA)

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On Day Two of the training for young journalists from national and regional media in Bulgaria the trainees discussed the European Parliament elections in June 2024 and disinformation campaigns. The three-day programme is titled "Do You Know about the EU Institutions?".

This is the third programme of its kind organized by the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) in partnership with the European Parliament.

The trainees met with BTA's Iva Tontcheva and Anelia Dimitrova, MEP Tsvetelina Penkova, International Journalism Assoc. Prof. Ralitsa Kovacheva and EP Press Attaches in Bulgaria Biliana Tzarnoretchka and Kalina Varbanova.

Iva Tontcheva, Head of BTA's Social Media Team, presented the news agency's coverage of the June 2024 EP elections by correspondents sent to all EU Member States. She noted that while every topic has a European dimension, the most difficult thing is to find the best way to "translate" the topic to the audience when writing about the European institutions.

Anelia Dimitrova, BTA's special correspondent in Brussels for the EP elections, had some recommendations for the trainees and shared her experience. She stressed the importance of seeking different points of view.

MEP Tsvetelina Penkova(S&D/BSP) said the portfolio for which Bulgaria was responsible in the previous European Parliament - innovation, technology and research - is similar to its portfolio in the new parliament. Significantly, this time startups are included as a separate entity related to European policies. Ekaterina Zaharieva is working hard ahead of her confirmation hearing on November 5 by the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, said Penkova, who is Vice-Chair of the Committee. Asked about the upcoming legislative initiatives regarding startups, Penkova said the first question is which new businesses meet the definition: "When we talk about startups, it has to be pretty strictly tied to a unique, distinct innovation that has societal value."

Assoc. Prof. Ralitsa Kovacheva from the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication at Sofia University gave a talk on the EP elections and disinformation campaigns. Talking about disinformation narratives, she said a narrative is a value-laden interpretation of the world. In her view, bad narratives are used more often because they are more impactful, and misinformation narratives are debunked by exposing the manipulative use of facts. Kovacheva also talked about the significant challenges facing the EU and presented various sources of information. She explained the nature of information manipulation and interference as a behaviour pattern that threatens or could negatively influence values, procedures and political processes.

EP Press Officers in Bulgaria Biliana Tzarnoretchka and Kalina Varbanova introduced the young journalists to the ways in which the EP's work can be followed. They presented the services and tools available to journalists, and talked about the functions and structure of the European Parliament.

Each of the 14 young journalists approved for participation will be issued a certificate by the EP Liaison Office in Sofia, and some of them will visit the European Parliament in Brussels in February. The EP's training programme is organized in more than 20 EU countries.

/DD/