The Halifax International Symposium on Media and Disinformation

Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, July 1-4, 2004

This International Symposium aims to deal with one of the most pressing matters facing journalists, media and culture workers, and all people — disinformation. The main aim of the Symposium is to empower journalists and collectives of the people by definitively exposing the modus operandi and extent of disinformation, presenting the experience of journalists and activists across Canada and abroad in tackling it, and to consolidate the long-term struggle for its elimination.That disinformation exists is well established. The international situation has become increasingly dangerous, filled with tension between the peoples and the big powers and amongst the big powers themselves. Disinformation has emerged as one of their most powerful weapons against peace and humanity. The whole world is discussing how the invasion and occupation of Iraq was justified by lies and deceptions. But disinformation extends far beyond isolated examples; whether it is the manipulation of “democracy” or of “human rights” or of “nuclear-non-proliferation” to justify interference in the internal affairs of sovereign nations and even launch pre-emptive aggression, it has become so pervasive that it is the central rule, rather than the exception.

Disinformation — as distinct from misinformation — relies on mystifying the basis of change, development and motion in society, and reduces objective reality to a matter of interpretation, debate and discussion. Whether it is the “clash of civilizations” or the thesis of “rogue” or “failed” states, disinformation relies on the ideological content of imperialism.

For example, people simply are not able to understand the Palestinian crisis as anything other that an “ethnic clash”, because they are not provided with information about the whole reality. They are not provided with the context needed to come to any other conclusion than the pre-determined one: a hopeless “cycle of violence”.

The manipulation of information, the invention of pretexts, the falsification of reality, and turning people against their own interests is itself facilitated by the monopoly control over the media, and the process of neo-liberal globalization. The unprecedented concentration of media and power enables a tiny handful of moguls with a preconceived agenda to deploy colossal resources to dictate what is published and what is not, who is hired and who is fired, all with the aim of disorienting people and usurping any healthy discussion. Under the veneer of being “fair and balanced” and even “objective”, this media normalizes bias, disregards and changes essential facts, and ignores and suppresses all those voices presenting information and independent views.

Disinformation is not just a matter of a foreign policy adventure of Bush or Blair, but has become a general method for imperial dictate and monopoly right in the overall neo-liberal assault on conscience and enlightenment, and the sovereign and democratic rights of nations and peoples.

The Symposium will feature discussions of disinformation and how it operates at the local, regional, national, and global levels. We invite media workers, scholars, First Nations, labour, fishermen and farmer’s organizers, anti-war and environmental activists, publishers and other concerned groups or individuals to present their experience and expertise of disinformation. We are inviting journalists from Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, Palestine and other countries to share their rich experience in fighting disinformation and interference in their affairs.

Hostility towards the monopoly media is pronounced. Some are concerned about the Americanization, some dislike the sensationalism, some say that coverage is distorted, and others say that reality is ignored altogether. But all express dissatisfaction and outrage. The media, increasing numbers of people are realizing, does not serve them, and even acts as a barrier to dealing with the pressing issues they face.

These concerns have given rise to an explosion of new and independent media on a global scale, as a voice to address peoples’ rights and concerns.

Those who are initiating this conference have professional backgrounds in independent journalism and publishing, in radio, print, film, books, and on the Internet. This Symposium is open to everyone who is deeply concerned about disinformation, the mass media and the kind of information and culture they represent. This Symposium has been borne out of this concern. We share the conviction that now is the time to develop our collective capability to influence the course of events. It is the responsibility of those who stand for the truth to thoroughly deal with the question of disinformation. We are building a space where we can deal with the question, and advance the long work of combatting disinformation and building an independent media.

Let all those concerned about fighting disinformation converge on Halifax!

* Call for Papers: halifaxsymposium.ca