Here's a sample of the graphics you can find in this project, and the link to it: www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/20...

The National’s Data team cross-referenced public databases of the recorded deaths of the journalists covering the war. And last week, our latest visual project was published. In there, we show the circumstances and patterns of killings.

Corroborating data from both @CPJMENA and @IFJGlobal databases, we have been able to reveal more behind the disturbing figures...

Illustrations: Stan Cooper
Data, story and graphics: Me and @isaacarroyov.bsky.social

If every effort to strengthen democracy gets misframed as censorship, only disinformation benefits. Building civic capacity isn’t suppression, it’s the foundation of empowered freedom.

Great to see and connect with some of the key speakers @yoyoel.com @eliothiggins.bsky.social @ninajankowicz.com and so many others no yet here on the platform.

In the end, the themes that stayed with me were the ones that felt most actionable: rebuilding social cohesion, strengthening societal resilience, and embedding media literacy in education. These might sound abstract, but if we work together, these might be the most practical defences we have.

A more personal reflection from the summit, and one I didn’t expect, was how cathartic it felt. I’ve been a target of disinformation before, as many of us have. The threats are real and consistent. Hearing from colleagues about the attacks they faced and how they handled them was grounding.

We also have to accept that tech platforms where this battle plays out are unlikely to lead to the solution. Public trust in their interventions is eroded, and moderation is now politicised and often framed as censorship. There’s little incentive for tech companies to intervene as things stand.

And this isn’t just a challenge for the West.

Disinformation has long destabilised parts of the Global South, where fractured media and information voids are common. While much of the discussion focused on the US/EU in the context of current political shifts, there’s a lot to learn from others.

There was a lot of brainpower in the room, coming at the issue from different angles. But one consistent thread ran through for me: the need for stronger media literacy, better public understanding of information environments, and more investment in societal resilience.

While journalism and OSINT remain on the front lines, it’s clear that the defence against disinformation can’t be confined to information wars alone.

This is a societal problem, and the response needs to be multifaceted. Across all disciplines.