Young people combat disinformation

What is Salon5?
Salon5 is the youth newsroom of Correctiv, an investigative research platform. We produce journalism with and for young people aged 13 to 18, teaching them journalistic skills and media literacy. 

What does that look like in practice?
We now have nearly 100 volunteer youth reporters. They come to the newsroom after school and produce their own content. We show them how a fact check works, how to write a video script and how to develop a story. Most of them first heard about Salon5 through one of our workshops in schools or youth centres. 

What is the role of disinformation?
In my view, not enough attention is paid to the massive problems caused by the platforms where young people spend so much time. There is an abundance of disinformation and AI-generated content on platforms like TikTok that is not identified as such, for instance. And the platforms themselves do nothing about it. So a lot of young people find it hard to assess information correctly. 

But Salon5 is on these platforms, too.
Yes, because we have to reach the young people where they are. They talk a great deal about what happens on TikTok, for example, and it has a very powerful influence on their lives.  

What motivates you personally in this work? 
I find it incredibly inspiring to work with such a dynamic and innovative young target group. They have so many ideas that can improve society, and they bring a very personal perspective to the issues. For example, they ask: “I don’t understand – why is there a war going on here of all places?” We try to give them the journalistic skills to answer their own questions.