ASEAN- USAID PARTNERSHIP FOR REGIONAL OPTIMIZATION WITHIN
THE POLITICAL-SECURITY AND SOCIO-CULTURAL COMMUNITIES (PROSPECT)
SCOPE OF WORK
Media Specialist - Development of ASEAN Guidelines on Media and Information
Literacy and Training-of-Trainers (ToT) Programme to Address Fake News and
Misinformation in ASEAN
I. BACKGROUND
Social media enables information to be created and exchanged at an
unprecedented scale and speed. Widely accessible to anyone who owns a
smartphone or computer, social media allows citizens to absorb a tremendous
amount of information as well as allowing anyone to become a reporter of
information, producing news-verified or not-that is shared globally to anyone
on that particular social media platform. While there are undisputed benefits
to the proliferation of information-most notably improved connectivity with
family and friends and better access to useful information-the ease and
accessibility of false or misleading information has also changed the way we
live and view the world. Statistics show that there are 2.07 billion and 330
million active Facebook and Twitter users per month respectively worldwide.
Every minute, 300 hours' worth of content is uploaded to YouTube. This new
infrastructure, the information superhighway, has also shifted news consumption
to online and social media platforms. According to a Pew Research Center study,
62 percent of adults in the United States receive their news on social media.
As Internet penetration increases across ASEAN, it may be expected that there
will be a similar shift in media consumption patterns across Member States.
This new media environment poses new challenges to governments as well as the
wider community. A key challenge is the use of social media to willingly
promulgate disinformation or pass along unverified reports and/or news stories.
As social media platforms seek to command the attention of users for monetary
benefit, they are complicit in the transmission of unverified information,
inadvertently or not. There is ample evidence in countries ranging from the
United States, to Kenya, to India where information has been distorted to
create stories with the intention of provoking violence or sowing hate, fear,
distrust, and discord among certain segments of the citizenry. ASEAN is not
immune to this phenomenon.
Not surprising, social media has become a vital vehicle through which extremist
groups promote their narratives and recruit cadres. However, despite the
urgency of this rising threat, governments and educational systems have been
slow to act. Not enough is being done to help consumers of media develop the
skills they need, not only to stay safe, but also to be more well-informed
citizens. One critical means of addressing "fake news" and disinformation is to
educate citizens to be more media savvy and more discerning consumers of the
information they are taking in, including where it is coming from, its
veracity, and its biases. By improving citizens' "media literacy" they will be
more apt to understand the information they are absorbing and less likely to
forward any false or inaccurate information and messages they are receiving
through social media. Through education, citizens will be better able to
navigate propaganda and biases, including from extremist groups, not to mention
helping create better informed citizens more aware of what is going on in their
communities and countries.
In late 2017 in Medan, Indonesia, the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on
Human Rights (AICHR) held a "High-level Dialogue on Managing Freedom of
Expression in the Information Age" supported by ASEAN-USAID PROSPECT's
predecessor project, ASEAN-US PROGRESS. During this event, members of the
current PROSPECT team learned about UNESCO's Handbook for Journalism Education
and Training entitled: Journalism, "Fake News" & Disinformation, which had
recently been finalized. The seven training modules within the UNESCO Handbook
provide a comprehensive training program for journalists, which PROGRESS staff
felt could be readily adapted to suit the ASEAN context. After discussions with
UNESCO as PROGRESS was winding down and PROSPECT was ramping up, PROSPECT began
to envisage a means of adapting the UNESCO Handbook and quickly recognized the
need to explore the socio-political nuances of the topic to ensure any training
program adequately reflects ASEAN culture and sensibilities, and in order to do
this, any ASEAN training program would necessarily require early and continuous
consultation with relevant ASEAN officials. Fortunately, the basic ideas in the
UNESCO Handbook are already reflected in ASEAN's latest thinking on the topic
of "fake news" and disinformation.
During the 31st ASEAN Summit in November 2017, ASEAN Leaders pronounced the
importance of combating "fake news" across Member States and at the 14th
Conference of the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) held in
early 2018, ASEAN officials endorsed the "Framework and Joint Declaration to
Minimize the Harmful Effects of Fake News." The Framework places education and
awareness as the "first line of defense" and notes the importance of media
literacy and public awareness to creating "a discerning and well-informed
public that is able to detect fake news when it is presented to them."
In addition to adopting the Framework in early 2018, the ASEAN Leaders also
endorsed the ASEAN Declaration on Culture of Prevention for a Peaceful,
Inclusive, Resilient, Healthy and Harmonious Society. In the Declaration, the
Leaders agreed to the following:
Promote a culture of prevention for a peaceful, inclusive, resilient, healthy
and harmonious society by focusing on:
1) understanding the root causes and consequences of violent extremism and
other forms of violence and deviant behaviours at individual, organisational
and institutional levels through risk assessment, research, forecast, early
warning and other evidence-based methods;
2) adopting a mind-set change from a reactive to a preventive approach;
3) inculcating shared values such as peace, harmony, intercultural
understanding, the rule of law, good governance, respect, trust, tolerance,
inclusiveness, moderation, social responsibility, and diversity;
4) developing effective upstream preventive policies and initiatives such as
transformative social protection, public information, responsible use of media,
as well as strengthening the existing values-based education in schools and
institutions
In the Declaration, the Leaders also agreed to support six thrusts of culture
of prevention in conformity with the principles of ASEAN Charter, which
includes "Promoting a culture supporting the values of moderation" and focuses
on promoting literacy at all levels to prevent deliberate falsehoods and
potential radicalization (thrust vi.). SOMED and SOMRI are co-leads for thrust
vi.
During the 31st ASEAN Summit, the Leaders also pronounced the importance of
combating "fake news" across Member States, to which and at the 14th Conference
of the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) held in early 2018,
ASEAN officials adopted the "Framework and Joint Declaration to Minimize the
Harmful Effects of Fake News." The Framework places education and awareness as
the "first line of defense" and notes the importance of media literacy and
public awareness to creating "a discerning and well-informed public that is
able to detect fake news when it is presented to them."
To further strengthen media resiliency and educate the public to become
digitally responsible citizens, 14th AMRI also endorsed the "Core Values on
Digital Literacy for ASEAN" which promotes responsibility, empathy,
authenticity, discernment, and integrity. The Core Values seek to ensure that
engagements via the online space can be conducted safely and responsibly by
guiding users to evaluate, use, create and share content effectively.
Relying on the proactive approach of the Declaration on the Culture of
Prevention, particularly reference to point iv. and thrust vi. above and
building upon ASEAN's commitment to providing awareness raising and media
literacy education as a means of countering "fake news" under the AMRI's
Framework and relying on the proactive approach of the Declaration on the
Culture of Prevention, particularly reference to point 4 above, PROSPECT will
support ASEAN to develop a comprehensive Training of-Trainers (TOT) program to
address the scourge of "fake news" and disinformation throughout the region.
The TOT program will also contribute to the recently adopted Bali Work Plan to
Prevent and Counter Radicalisation and Violent Extremism, particularly on the
following priority areas:
1.3. to raise media awareness and encourage support in the public campaign
against radicalization and violent extremism violent extremism;
1.6. to increase educative talks conducted by influential religious leaders
through social media for peace culture;
1.8. to build social media resilience amongst vulnerable groups, particularly
the youth and women, on preventing the misuse of social media for violent
extremism, including activities related to awareness raising among
personalities/influencers from other forms of media since they also play an
important role in countering violent extremism; and
1.9. to conduct research on the misuse of the internet and social media by
violent extremists to encourage public private partnership with the business
community and technology sector in promoting moderation and enhancing dialogue
to prevent radicalisation and violent extremism.
II. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES
With a view to alleviate the scourge of fake news, disinformation and
misinformation, develop ASEAN Guidelines on Media and Information Literacy and
Training-of-Trainers (ToT) Programme to address fake news, misinformation and
disinformation that can be included in the curriculum of secondary and tertiary
educational institutions.
III. TASKS AND OUTPUTS
The Media Specialist will be tasked to support SOMED in preparing all necessary
inputs for the development of an ASEAN Guidelines on Media and Information
Literacy and ToT Programme to address fake news, misinformation and
disinformation. Specifically, the Media Specialist will be tasked with the
following:
1. Develop and craft substantive concepts for the draft ASEAN Guidelines on
Media Literacy and Information to address Fake News, Misinformation and
Disinformation, with specific reference to Article 23 of the ASEAN Human Rights
Declaration (AHRD) stipulates the right of individuals to form, hold and
express their opinions without undue interference and in consultation with
UNESCO experts on media and information literacy.
2. In consultation with UNESCO experts on media and information literacy,
develop and draft a ToT Programme on Media and Information Literacy to address
fake news, misinformation and disinformation that will focus on methodologies
that can be used by teachers and lecturers at the secondary and tertiary
institutions in promoting media literacy and information to their students and
in teaching their students how to detect fake news and disinformation and in
promoting media literacy.
3. Support SOMED in developing strategies on instituting the ASEAN
Guidelines and implementing the ToT Programme within formal secondary and
tertiary educational institutions.
4. Prepare draft agenda/programme of activities and presentation material in
supporting and facilitating a consultative multi-stakeholder workshop, which
will bring together relevant ASEAN officials from different sectoral bodies and
other stakeholders to discuss and refine the draft ASEAN Guidelines and draft
ToT Programme.
5. Finalize the ASEAN Guidelines and ToT Programme for presentation to SOMED
and its endorsement.
6. Facilitate a seminar or similar activities aimed at launching and
disseminating the finalized ASEAN Guidelines and ToT Programme.
IV.DELIVERABLES, DUE DATES, LEVEL OF EFFORT (LOE)
No.
Deliverable
Tentative Due Date
LOE
1
Draft ASEAN Guidelines on Media and Information Literacy (this can become part
of the introductory chapter of the ToT Programme for addressing fake news,
misinformation and disinformation
October 28, 2020
4 days
2
Draft ASEAN ToT Programme for addressing fake news, misinformation and
disinformation
November 14, 2020
10 days
3
Prepare Agenda/Programme of Activities and presentation material for first
SOMED-led multi-stakeholder consultation on the draft ASEAN Guidelines as well
as draft ToT Programme
December 1, 2020
2 days
4
Present draft ASEAN Guidelines and ToT Programme and facilitate discussion at
the SOMED-led stake-holders consultation
December 15, 2020
4 days
5
Revise draft ASEAN Guidelines and ToT Programme incorporating inputs and
comments made at the SOMED multi-stakeholder consultation meeting
February 15, 2021
2 days
6
Prepare Agenda/Programme of Activities and present second draft ASEAN
Guidelines as well as draft ToT Programme material at the second SOMED-led
multi-stakeholder consultation meeting with a view to finalize them
March 30, 2021
4 days
7
Finalize the ASEAN Guidelines and ToT Programme, incorporating final inputs and
comment made at the second consultation meeting
May 3, 2021
10 days
Total
36 days
The Media Specialist is responsible for timely submission of all deliverables.
She/he will be paid upon satisfactory completion of work and deliverables
outlined above, upon submission of timesheets for days worked and approved
PROSPECT's Program Manager.
V. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE AND AUTHORIZED WORK WEEK
Period of performance for this assignment is October 14, 2020 through May 7,
2021 with up to 36 days of LOE (see above table). The authorized work week for
this consultancy is six (6) days. The Media Specialist may not record more than
six (6) consecutive work days and work billed on weekends and travel days will
also draw from-and shall not be in excess of-the total approved individual LOE
for this assignment.
VI. REQUIREMENTS:
* Graduate degree in Journalism, Mass Communications, Education, and/or
relevant discipline
* Minimum of 7 years of experience working on issues of freedom of
information, freedom of expression, countering false narratives in social
media, and other related experience
* English fluency in both writing and speaking
* Proven experience working on issues pertaining to regional cooperation
and development, ideally with a strong understanding of and experience working
with ASEAN
* Must be a self-starter and a highly motivated individual possessing
proven strategic thinking skills and knowledge of results-based planning and
programming through participatory approaches and methodologies
* Proven ability to produce high quality academic work and a proven ability
to conduct research and analyse data and information
* Ability to lead and facilitate meetings with multi-stakeholders,
including senior government officials
* Possess strong interpersonal skills and team-orientation
* Ability to manage work under tight deadlines
Submit your CV to
prospectconsultants@xxxxxxx<mailto:prospectconsultants@xxxxxxx> by October 5th,
2020. Title of the email should be "PROSPECT Media Specialist." Only finalists
will be contacted.
Regards,
ASEAN-USAID PROSPECT
Jakarta, Indonesia
PROSPECT is a joint project of the U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID), U.S. State Department and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN)
-------------------------------------------- The DAI email disclaimer can be
found at http://www.dai.com/disclaimer ----------------------------
