Fondation Hirondelle was founded 30 years ago in the wake of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, during which those responsible for the violence used certain media outlets to spread lies and incite hatred. In 2025, disinformation has become a widespread phenomenon with consequen- ces that could prove to be lasting. The main threat associated with this dynamic, whose effectiveness is boosted by digitalisation and the rise of generative AI, is to social cohesion. The least- connected populations and those speaking neglected languages are being left behind in the production and sharing of fact-checked knowledge; a growing segment of the population is being taken in by fake news; and polarisation is increasing as our ability to dialogue is eroded.
The news media have a fundamental role to play in addressing disinformation as the guarantors of journalistic content that adheres to ethical rules and professional standards such as truthfulness, balance, transparency and a sense of proportion. These media must function as a compass pointing the way in the turbulent sea of information. As for media and information literacy, it has become an essential and complementary addition to the work of journalists. However, the media alone cannot shoulder the entire burden. Countering disinformation demands greater collaboration with key actors in the public and private sectors, civil society, think tanks, education and research.
Caroline Vuillemin, General director
– Excerpt from Mediation No. 15 by Fondation Hirondelle.