The project aimed to address the pressing needs of working journalists and the priorities in training professionals within the media sector. Through the “Fact-Checking Academy”, a 6-week intensive course, the project intended to equip participants with practical digital skills and tools to identify, verify, and counter fake news. By focusing on real-world applications, it promoted flexible and innovative learning experiences, accessible to all media professionals. At the individual level, the project aimed to enhance journalistic quality by introducing advanced verification methods, supporting professionals in adapting to the demands of the digital era. At the organizational level, it supported media partners in building internal capacity for fact-checking, integrating these practices into daily workflows. For academic institutions the goal was to upgrade their training portfolios through cross-border collaboration. Resources such as the “Fact-Checking Starter Pack” and the video series “Introduction to Hands-on Fact-Checking” provided open-access learning content to ensure continued upskilling. Overall, the project aimed to raise standards, support digital transformation and create impact across the European media landscape.
The ANALYSIS project was developed to address the urgent need for advanced digital and verification skills among media professionals in Greece, Austria, and Portugal. The deliberate spread of fake news, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical crises, negatively affects millions of people across the globe and deteriorates democracy, social cohesion, and undermines freedom of expression. A review of existing research conducted during the proposal phase revealed that all partner countries suffered from the absence of structured fact-checking education and limited access to further training, mainly due to financial constraints in the media sector. At the same time, journalists faced increasing demands for new digital skills to remain employable in the changing media industry. ANALYSIS aimed to fill these gaps by offering a multinational, intensive training program to enhance the employability of journalists and empower them with practical tools and methodologies to tackle online misinformation and promote trustworthy journalism.