European fact-checking organisations operate in an increasingly volatile information landscape, where navigating information crises and coordinated disinformation campaigns regularly exposes them to online harassment, legal threats, and severe forms of intimidation. To help organisations strengthen their resilience and preparedness, the FACTEUR project is launching a new training programme, combining training on protection, security and emergency response.
The programme will offer a series of 10 free online training sessions between October 2026 and April 2028, covering practical topics related to digital and organisational security, elections and crisis response, online harassment, legal risks and the wellbeing of fact-checkers.
The sessions will bring together experts and practitioners to share practical tools, experience and best practices that fact-checking organisations can use in their daily work and in times of crisis.
The Training Programme
The programme will cover the following topics:
- Online Harassment Response: how newsrooms can build effective protocols to prevent, manage and respond to online harassment.
- Rapid Response System (RRS): how fact-checkers can use the RRS under the EU Code of Practice on Disinformation.
- Digital Safety and Rapid Response Protocols: how to use the FACTEUR Protection Scheme and strengthen digital security in practice.
- Electoral Disinformation: understanding persistent electoral disinformation narratives and developing effective responses.
- Secure Communications and Operational Anonymity: practical tools and strategies to protect communications, devices and professional identities.
- The First 48 Hours After a Crisis: how to detect, assess and respond to disinformation during the first hours of an unpredictable crisis.
- Burnout Prevention and Mental Health Strategies: practical approaches to recognising and managing stress and burnout.
- Crisis Communications: how to communicate clearly and effectively during fast-moving crises.
- Legal Literacy for Fact-Checkers: navigating defamation risks, SLAPPs and other forms of legal intimidation.
- Protection and Security: strengthening organisational preparedness and security in anticipation of crises and emergencies.
The dates and registration details for each following session will be announced one month in advance. All sessions will be recorded.
First Session
The first session, “How newsrooms can build an effective response against online harassment,” will take place on 9 October 2026, from 11:00 to 13:00 CET. Registration is open. Please find all of the information and the link to register at this webpage.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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