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UNDP Turkey translated a series of audio messages that UNESCO published to Turkish and allowed radio stations to use them for free in order to cope with disinformation about Coronavirus epidemic and encourage healthy behavior.
Ankara, 21 April 2020 – The audio messages published in seven languages in the last few weeks by UNESCO, the education, science and culture organization of United Nations, have been translated to Turkish as the eighth language by the collaboration of UNDP Turkey.
The audio messages are aiming to cope with global disinformation and encourage healthy behavior amidst the COVID-19 epidemic. The messages can be used by any media outlet, free of charge.
The audio messages that regard disinformation can be as harmful as the virus itself consist of eight different messages in fields such as methods to cope with disinformation and speculations about the epidemic and virus, media and awareness, literacy and scrutinizing authenticity of information.
The Turkish dubbing , which were performed by theater and voice artist Toprak Sergen, can be accessed from https://bit.ly/COVIDRadyoSpotlari.
Any public and private radio outlets can download these spots from this address and broadcast them free of charge.
The users can also share the audio messages on social media.
Detailed information: Faik Uyanık, UNDP Turkey, faik.uyanik@undp.org
Know credible information sources
Disinformation is spreading alongside the new coronavirus. To counter this, it is important to share information that comes from reliable sources, such as health authorities and the World Health Organization. During the COVID-19 outbreak, only trust official information sources and credible media outlets. Do not share unverified information. This is a message from UNESCO.
Teach your child MIL
Are you a parent? Now that you are spending more time at home, why not teach your child how to spot false content and rumors? Find a piece of information online that is confirmed as disinformation, and ask your child these questions: Who made this? For whom was this made? Is it from a reliable source? During the COVID-19 outbreak, only trust official information sources and credible media outlets. Do not share unverified information. This is a message from UNESCO.
Beware of false experts
Has someone you know sent you advice from an unknown expert against coronavirus? Watch out, the expert may not be an authentic one! One way to manipulate information is through the use of a “false expert”, who can add more credibility to the message. Always verify who that expert is, what their experience on the topic is, and which organization they represent. During the COVID-19 outbreak, only trust official information sources and credible media outlets. Do not share unverified information. This is a message from UNESCO.
Gauge your emotional reaction
When you are scrolling through your news feed, and you read a message about the coronavirus, think about how it makes you feel. Does it make you feel angry? sad? or shocked? Disinformation can be spread through the use of emotion-targeted content. Before sharing or reacting to such content, try to think of where it comes from, who might benefit from it, and who might be hurt from it. Think before clicking. Think before sharing. During the COVID-19 outbreak, only trust official information sources and credible media outlets. Do not share unverified information. This is a message from UNESCO.
Disinformation spreads Getting reliable health information about the COVID-19 outbreak can be a life-saver. Yet disinformation and rumours can spread just as fast as the virus itself. Now that many of us are spending much more time online, let’s think critically about the information we are receiving and sharing, especially on the coronavirus.
Quality journalism
Getting reliable health information about the COVID-19 outbreak can be a life-saver. Rumors and false information can help further spread the virus. To counter this epidemic, it is important to rely on information coming from professional and ethical newspapers, TV and radio channels, and news websites. Quality journalism is now more crucial than ever.
Fact-checking for social media content
Getting reliable health information about the COVID-19 outbreak can be a life-saver. If you are not certain about what you see on social media about the coronavirus, do not share it or like it. Do some fact-checking by cross-checking sources or by visiting the World Health Organization’s website. If it is proven to be false, don’t hesitate to let people know by commenting and adding the source.
Access to information
Getting reliable health information about the COVID-19 outbreak can be a life-saver. In a times of crisis, it is essential to guarantee freedom of expression and the right to public information, in particular to counter the spread of disinformation.
For other language versions of the audio messages produced by UNESCO: https://en.unesco.org/covid19/communicationinformationresponse/audioresources
Resources on Information Sharing and Countering Disinformation focusing on COVID-19 presented by UNESCO for institutions like universities and NGOs: https://es.unesco.org/node/320755
*To download the above playable Turkish spots in broadcast quality, please click this link.
