At the Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism Summit 2017 Aidan White took part in a plenary discussing global perspectives on fake news and a workshop on the future of ethics in journalism.
The Art of the Lie – Global perspectives on Fake News:
We seem to be in a new era where truth is no longer objective or even obtainable; Some go so far as to say there is no such thing, just different opinions, all valid. In a field that has long prided itself on finding and presenting evidence, what are investigative reporters to do? How can you combat fake news and help readers and viewers to distinguish among mistakes, propaganda and real news?
The panel including Andy Lehren a New York Times investigative reporter and Drew Sullivan, co-founded the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Program (OCCRP), was moderated by Ivo Burum, an Australian journalist and award-winning writer, director and television executive producer.
Ethics: Old school and a new vision for the future of journalism – hosted by WAN-IFRA 
In this talk, Aidan White analysed how journalism with a public purpose is being overwhelmed by a “post-truth” movement in which facts and expert opinion are sidelined. Public trust, Aidan argued, can only return when people have confidence that powerful institutions – government, the state, corporations are accountable and listening to their concerns. Journalism at its best can do this job, but only with support. He talked about sustainable solutions to the funding crisis facing independent media, campaign to combat hatred and intolerance, pressuring social networks and Internet companies to accept responsibility as news publishers.
Highlights of the plenary and ethics workshop
Global perspectives on Fake News – Speakers
Andrew Lehren- Reporter, New York Times
Drew Sullivan- Editor, OCCRP
Aidan White- Director and CEO, Ethical Journalism Network
Global perspectives on Fake News – Moderator
Ivo Burum
Ivo Burum is an Australian journalist and award-winning writer, director and television executive producer. A mojo expert, he has more than 30 years experience in fact-based reporting, , including working on frontline international current affairs like Foreign Correspondent and 60 Minutes. A pioneer in UGS creation, Burum holds a Ph.D. from Deakin University and lectures in multimedia journalism. He also has trained more than 1,500 print journalists and hundreds of students in mojo. He develops powerful community-based mojo projects and runs Burum Media, a mojo and web TV consultancy that trains journalists, educators and citizens. He has published widely, including his latest book: Mojo-The Mobile Journalism Handbook.