With Guyana’s 2025 General and Regional Elections approaching, a group of Guyanese media professionals has been equipped to tackle disinformation and artificial intelligence in news coverage.
International IDEA, with support from the European Union, hosted a special workshop in Panama City focusing on information integrity, digital technology, AI, and journalism in election reporting.
The session, held at the picturesque and sprawling Marriott Panama Hotel, brought together experts from the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab and Georgetown University.
They explored how digital platforms can both increase access to information—and be used by malicious actors to disrupt democracy.
International IDEA’s Programme Manager, Ambassador Marcelo Varela-Erasheva, spoke with Ignite News following the event.
“International IDEA is an intergovernmental organisation with membership from 35 states. We are providing technical assistance for the strengthening of democracy in Guyana, sponsored by the European Union,” he said, pointing out that the goal was to share experience of experts with senior journalists and editors in Guyana.
During the one-day workshop, participants learnt how to detect disinformation and information manipulation—along with methods to spot deepfakes and other synthetic media.
Esteban Ponce de León, from the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab, explained the risks posed by AI-generated content that can distort reality.
Meanwhile, Professor Silvio Waisbord of George Washington University focused on responsible journalism during elections. He shared tips on how reporters can cover disinformation while maintaining fairness and credibility—especially in polarised environments.
The workshop sought to equip Guyanese journalists with tools to safeguard information integrity throughout the upcoming elections.
