Media Home
UN Web TV
UN Audiovisual Library
UN PhotoUnifeed
UN / VERIFIED CAMPAIGN
STORY: UN / VERIFIED CAMPAIGN
TRT: 3:33
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH /NATS
DATELINE: 21 MAY 2020, NEW YORK CITY
FILE
1. Exterior shot, UN flag at the Headquarters
21 MAY 2020, NEW YORK CITY
2. SUNDBITE (English) Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications:
“Fiction is often circulating faster than facts and it is endangering public health response and ultimately it is endangering people’s lives. Purveyors of misinformation are creating storylines and slick content that are filling information void where science has no answers. They offer promises of cures that has no evidence of benefit and may even be harmful. They are savvy about using narratives that link to people’s fears and appeal to people’s need for answers or need to find a culprit.”
FILE
3. Exterior shot, UN flag at the Headquarters
21 MAY 2020, NEW YORK CITY
4. SUNDBITE (English) Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications:
“Unfortunately, in the algorithm-driven-social-media era, the popularity of a post often has more influence over who sees it that whether it is factual. So the social media platforms have committed to taking down or are putting up warnings about dubious information and are even guiding people to the WHO’s website or websites of the national health authorities, but we believe this is not enough, particularly because the most pernicious information and conspiracy content spreads via messaging apps peer-to-peer, spreading online in some cases even faster than the virus.”
FILE
5. Exterior shot, UN flag at the Headquarters
21 MAY 2020, NEW YORK CITY
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications:
“We are collaborating with the organization - one of the world’s leading social mobilization organizations called Purpose to launch today an initiative called Verified. And Verified is going to be, among other things but very centrally, inviting the global public to volunteer to counter this growing scourge of COVID-19 misinformation by sharing UN-verified science-based content with their communities. This content though, will be, better packaged and more digital and social media optimized. Also, there will be content created for broadcasters and radio stations. But these volunteers will be described as kind of digital first responders, they will all receive their daily feed of verified content with simple compelling messaging optimized for social sharing that either directly counters misinformation or fills an information void.”
FILE
7. Exterior shot, UN flag at the Headquarters
21 MAY 2020, NEW YORK CITY
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications:
“We are partnering also with an organization called “First Draft News” that is closely monitoring the spread of misinformation and where is coming from and we will prioritize audiences that are receiving this misinformation and sharing it as well. But we will also focus our content on support for vulnerable populations and countries through content that is also focused on inspiring people through stories of the best of humanity as well as opportunities to build back better, in line with the SDGs and the Paris Agreement.”
FILE
9. Exterior shot, UN flag at the Headquarters
The United Nations on Thursday launched Verified, an initiative to combat the growing scourge of COVID-19 misinformation by increasing the volume and reach of trusted, accurate information.
Melissa Fleming, who heads the UN communications department, observed that in many countries, misinformation spread via digital channels is impeding pandemic response and stirring unrest.
“Fiction is often circulating faster than facts and it is endangering public health response and ultimately it is endangering people’s lives,” said Fleming. “Purveyors of misinformation are creating storylines and slick content that are filling information void where science has no answers. They offer promises of cures that has no evidence of benefit and may even be harmful. They are savvy about using narratives that link to people’s fears and appeal to people’s need for answers or need to find a culprit.”
Under Verified, information will be provided around three themes: science – to save lives; solidarity – to promote local and global cooperation; and solutions – to advocate for support for populations that have been impacted by COVID-19.
“Unfortunately, in the algorithm-driven-social-media era, the popularity of a post often has more influence over who sees it that whether it is factual," said Fleming. “The social media platforms have committed to taking down or are putting up warnings about dubious information and are even guiding people to the WHO’s website or websites of the national health authorities, but we believe this is not enough, particularly because the most pernicious information and conspiracy content spreads via messaging apps peer-to-peer, spreading online in some cases even faster than the virus.”
People across the world are encouraged to sign up as “information volunteers” with Verified, to share trusted content to keep their families and communities safe and connected.
The volunteers - described as “digital first responders” - will receive a daily feed of verified content that will be optimized for sharing on social media platforms, containing simple yet compelling messaging that either directly counters misinformation with facts, or fills in any gaps.
Verified will partner with UN agencies and others, including influencers, civil society, business and media organizations, to distribute trusted, accurate content, while also working with social media platforms to root out hate and harmful information about COVID-19.
“We are partnering also with an organization called “First Draft News” that is closely monitoring the spread of misinformation and where is coming from and we will prioritize audiences that are receiving this misinformation and sharing it as well. But we will also focus our content on support for vulnerable populations and countries through content that is also focused on inspiring people through stories of the best of humanity as well as opportunities to build back better, in line with the SDGs and the Paris Agreement,” said Fleming.
The initiative is also supported by the IKEA Foundation and Luminate.
Download
There is no media available to download.
