Logically, Newsmobile & Facebook launch Covid-19 Media literacy Programme

Aug 24, 2021

Logically and NewsMobile have launched Covishaala: a collaborative series of pan-Indian media literacy workshops, targeting COVID-19 misinformation and supported by Facebook.

With over three crore people having tested positive in the country, India ranks in the top three among the world’s most affected. In addition to the surging numbers is the ‘infodemic’ of COVID-19 related misinformation, creating panic and fueling vaccine hesitancy.

Covishaala deploys a ‘Train the Trainer’ model, empowering influential professionals from various fields, with the tools and information they need to address the COVID-19 misinformation impacting their communities.

The course, delivered by expert Logically and NewsMobile representatives alongside local journalists and the medical fraternity, includes guidance in various languages on how to spot misinformation, build media literacy skills and identify trustworthy sources of information using OSINT tools. It also provides robust strategies to translate this knowledge into actionable advice, applicable and accessible to any audience in India.

Lyric Jain, Founder and CEO of Logically, said:

“Too often, media literacy programmes do not reach those most in need, which is why Covishaala has been designed specifically to target those most vulnerable to false news, rumours and narratives. By empowering influential leaders and experts with the information and strategies they need to help people in their communities, we can make a demonstrable and scalable impact against damaging COVID-19 misinformation. We’re grateful for the support of our partners, Facebook and NewsMobile, in making this programme possible. Media literacy needs to be a priority; COVID-19 misinformation is threatening lives and we must act now to combat it.”   

Saurabh Shukla, Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of NewsMobile said:

We believe that Covishaala can address one of the biggest challenges of the COVID-19 infodemic - that of vaccine and COVID-19 misinformation. We believe that in collaboration with Facebook, and together with our partner Logically and our doctor mentors, we will be able to make the last mile impact with this unique series.”=

Manish Chopra, Director and Head of Partnerships, Facebook India said:

“This partnership is the latest step in our ongoing efforts to support fact-checkers and connect them with resources to stop the spread of Covid-19 and health misinformation. We look forward to supporting Logically and NewsMobile in our shared goal of addressing Covid-19 misinformation by training experts and community leaders to identify and reduce misinformation across the country.”

This initiative forms part of Facebook’s global efforts to tackle COVID-19 misinformation on and off its platform. By investing in programmes such as Covishaala, Facebook aims to improve media literacy skills among the general public and encourage take-up of the COVID-19 vaccine.