Workshop with Guyanese media ahead of the elections

Held in Panama City on 8 July, the workshop met journalists and media experts from Guyana for a full day of knowledge exchange and capacity building. The event focused on strengthening the understanding of information integrity in electoral processes, with a particular emphasis on digital disinformation and strategies to counter it.

Opening remarks were delivered by Nicolás Liendo, Program Officer for International IDEA’s Latin America and Caribbean team, and Javin Singh, Press and Information Officer for the EU Delegation in Guyana.

Organized by Marcelo Varela-Erasheva, Project Manager in Guyana, with support from the Office of the Prime Minister, the workshop was structured around three key themes:

• Disinformation and Electoral Integrity
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Media Manipulation
• Best Journalistic Practices in Election Coverage

These themes addressed the growing challenges media professionals face in navigating digital threats while keeping independence and public trust during electoral periods.

We were honoured to host two internationally recognized experts:

• Esteban Ponce de León, Resident Fellow at the Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) of the Atlantic Council, led two sessions. The first explored the impact of disinformation campaigns on electoral integrity and introduced practical tools for identifying and mitigating false content. The second focused on the role of AI in generating misleading materials—such as deepfakes and synthetic news—and offered emerging techniques for detecting manipulated information.
• Dr. Silvio Waisbord, Professor of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University, delivered a session on responsible journalism in politically polarized environments. He shared insights into the psychology of disinformation, its threat to democratic institutions, and the actors who benefit from media distrust.

This dynamic and timely workshop equipped Guyanese media professionals with the tools and knowledge to serve as guardians of transparency and accountability. By fostering informed reporting and resilient public discourse, the workshop contributes to a more robust democratic process in Guyana.