Christian communicators will gather in Helsinki and Stockholm in April 2019 to explore the challenges of hate speech and fake news online.
Under the title “What Makes Us So Angry? Hate speech, fake news and communication rights,” the conference from 10-12 April 2019 is being organised by the World Association for Christian Communication – Europe Region (WACC Europe) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC), and hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland.
“As Christian communicators we are committed by our faith and profession to freedom of expression, free press, media diversity and other communication rights. So how do we respond to the seemingly growing proliferation of hate speech and fake news online?” organisers said, announcing the conference.
This seminar and assembly will take stock of the European reality, a communication rights framework for the digital world, and case studies and strategies to address hate speech and disinformation. The programme will also include the once-every-four-years assembly of WACC Europe, which will elect new officers and executive for the European body. The full programme can be downloaded here.
The conference will begin in Helsinki at 9:30am on Wednesday 10 April and continue on the Viking ferry to and from Stockholm, returning with arrival back in Helsinki at 10:30 am on Friday 12 April. The participation fee is €190 including meals and two nights accommodation on the ferry. Full details can be found on a dedicated webpage: www.wacceurope.org/assembly2019/
The Conference of European Churches (CEC) brings together 114 churches from Orthodox, Protestant, and Anglican traditions from all over Europe for dialogue, advocacy, and joint action. It has offices in Brussels and Strasbourg.
WACC Europe is part of the World Association for Christian Communication, a global network that promotes communication rights for social justice and sustainable development, working with people of all faiths and none. Its global headquarters are in Toronto, Canada.
Contact information
For more information regarding the programme, please contact Sara Speicher (WACC), or Erin Green (CEC).
For more information regarding logistics and registration, please contact Emilia Cronvall (Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland)