What is Propaganda and How to Recognize it?

This course is dedicated to the topic of propaganda. The key goal of the course is to teach participants methods for identifying propaganda narratives and ways of countering them. The course covers the definition of propaganda, the purposes and types of propaganda in the world today, and helps to improve critical thinking. In addition to learning about the concept of propaganda, the course participant will learn to identify what narratives are present in propaganda materials. Propaganda will be examined both in the context of traditional media such as television and news publications as well as digital tools as social media. The course will also examine ways to counteract propaganda at various levels.

This course will help you to:

  • Learn the definition, goals and types of propaganda
  • Get to know the basic techniques and features of propaganda that will help you identify it
  • Learn to recognize narratives as a propaganda tool
  • Understand how propaganda is displayed in traditional media and on digital platforms
  • Get familiar with the characteristics of wartime propaganda as well as its core narratives 
  • Get insight into ways to counteract propaganda at the personal level, in journalistic work, and on the societal level

Course audience

The course is designed for aspiring and practicing young analysts, journalists and media professionals in Central Asia.

Format of the course

The course consists of five modules and is designed for 5 weeks of training. Its weekly workload for participants is 2-3 hours (depending on the complexity of the section and practical assignments). It consists of short video lectures with transcripts of texts, text information, handouts, and assignments intended for self-study. The course includes an 80% final test, which you have 10 attempts to complete. If you run out of attempts, the system becomes blocked and you need to register for the course again. Therefore, in case of initial unsuccessful attempts to pass the test assignments, we strongly advise participants to re-acquaint themselves with the course materials which are offered. If you want to retake the course, there is a possibility to do it four times.

 
5 weeks
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What will you learn?

Definition, goals, and types of propaganda
Basic techniques and features of propaganda
Narratives of propaganda and the principles of their dissemination
Characteristics of wartime propaganda
How to counteract propaganda on a personal and societal level?
10 tips for journalists and analysts on how not to become the propaganda victims

Program

Instructors

Frequently asked questions

How to register for the course?
First you need to register on the site itself, then select the course that suits you from the “Courses” section and register for the course itself.
Will I receive a certificate after completing the course?
The certificate is received by those who have passed all the lessons within the course and passed the final test successfully (at least 80%).
What if I don’t pass the test?
After each module in the course there is an intermediate test and a general test at the end of the course. You are given 10 attempts to pass the test. If it fails from the first attempts, you can review the lesson and take the test again. After exhausting 10 attempts, the system will be blocked. You will need to register for the course again to complete it.
What to do if the site is down?
Write to us at the indicated contacts in the “Contacts” section or in social networks.
What should I do if my name on the certificate is different from the name in the passport?
When registering, initially enter your data correctly. If you have indicated other details, write to us. We will correct and send the certificate with the correct data.
Can I take several courses?
Yes. You can take several courses at once or in sequence.
How often are courses updated?
Courses that already exist are not updated. We add new courses after they are crated.
How to participate in your other events?
We conduct various training events for journalists and journalism students from Central Asian countries. You can track new events on our website or on pages on social networks and take part. Often you need to register or pass a competitive selection.
Can only residents of Central Asia take courses?
Online courses are available to absolutely everyone regardless of place of residence. Offline events take place in one of the CA countries.
I am not from the media sector, but I want to enroll in the course. Is it possible?
Yes, everyone can take online courses.
How long is the course?
The duration of each course is determined individually, depending on the content and complexity of the course. The average duration is from 6 to 8 weeks. During this period, you must complete all the lessons and pass the tests. If you didn’t finish on time, the system will be blocked. But you can overwrite and go through again.