This May the European Fact-Checking Standards Network is celebrating its first hire: Giorgi Jangiani, who will serve as a coordinator who will help run the network and support the European fact-checking community.

Jangiani, who was selected from a pool of 35 applications, is a professional program manager with more than nine years experience in civil society management and media policy.

Based in Tbilisi, he began his career at FactCheck.ge, a Georgian fact-checking organisation, before going on to lead the USAID-funded Strengthening Democratic Resilience in Georgia Program for People in Need. There, he brought together regional fact-checking organisations, media outlets, and universities in Georgia to combat disinformation through a comprehensive multi-level approach.

Starting this month, he will support the EFCSN’s members and help them develop and collaborate, making the most of all the members’ expertise and connections. He will also put in practice his skills on management, fundraising, public policy and communication to make the voice of European fact-checkers heard among European decision makers, online platforms, researchers, funders, the media, and civil society networks.