Another Meeting with a Practicing Journalist

23.2.2026

Another meeting with practicing journalist Ihor Sereda took place as part of the educational course “Information Security: Without Restrictions and Embellishments.”

As part of the project “Institutionalization of interaction between higher education institutions and territorial communities as a factor in restoring and preserving human capital in conditions of martial law and post-war reconstruction of the country”, another meeting was held with practicing journalist Ihor Sereda within the educational course “Information Security: Without Restrictions and Embellishments”.

The main topic of discussion was the art of the headline as a tool of neuropsychology and manipulation. The participants analyzed how modern media use emotional triggers and clickbait to turn off the reader’s critical thinking even before they start reading the text. Today, the headline often becomes the “hook” of deception, which makes the audience vulnerable to hidden informational influences.

In oder to counteract sensational falsifications, the lectures identified basic verification methods and principles of trust. The key rule is “emotional detoxification”: if the news causes panic or rage, this is a sign of manipulation. It is important to follow the rule of three independent sources and always look for the original source, since loud “sensations” often turn out to be outdated facts taken out of context. Particular attention was paid to the work of “spin doctors”, who, under the guise of democracy and free criticism, skillfully “twist” events in the right light, forcing people to believe in the sincerity of planned scenarios.

This course is aimed at increasing the information literacy of young people and public communities, which is critically important for the stability of society. The skills of recognizing disinformation and understanding the methods of “spin doctors” are today an integral part of civic maturity and state security. The development of critical thinking becomes the foundation for preserving the human potential of Ukraine both during the period of martial law and during the future reconstruction of the country.

The event was organized in an open format, which provided the opportunity to involve a wide range of participants. The discussion was joined by higher education students, academics, and residents of the local community.

According to the project team