On 30 November and 1 December, the Faculties of Journalism and Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki organised a two-day conference on "Misinformation Phenomena and Religion" in cooperation with the KAS. The conference was attended by church representatives, government officials, theologians and journalists from Greece and abroad. The aim of the event was to inform and sensitise citizens, especially young people, about how false information with religious content is spread and how it can be used by certain actors to their own advantage in the shadow of the war in Ukraine.
The discussion was particularly fruitful, as experiences, best practices and expertise were exchanged. The representatives of the Greek Church, the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki and the Metropolitan of Kastoria were sensitised to the issue and concerned about the extent of the phenomenon. It was particularly positive that they intend to take action and discuss the issue with their colleagues. Representatives of other con-fessions were similarly vigilant. The journalists' contributions were enlightening. Each of them showed how they have dealt with examples of misinformation, but also how they deal with it. They highlighted the responsibility of their disciplines, but also the need for partnerships with state and church actors to achieve better outcomes that lead to the protection of citizens. The audience asked many questions during the event, which shows how important the topic is.
Important information emerged from all the panel discussions over the two days of the conference and channels of communication were established between the various stakeholders. These will prove valuable in the future. At the same time, the high presence of young people in the audience is encouraging, as it is the future journalists and theologians who are already preparing themselves for the important challenges in their professions.
