TRE-RS defends professional journalism as an ally against misinformation

TRE-RS defends professional journalism as an ally against disinformation On the last day of the Transparency Project, on RBS TV, the fight against disinformation in elections gained prominence in a conversation about the role of the press, the Electoral Court and voters in defending democracy. During a debate in Jornal do Almoço, Renato Sagrera, Secretary of Communication and Institutional Relations at TRE-RS, stated that checking information is one of the main ways to combat the circulation of rumors and fake news. ? Access the g1 RS channel on WhatsApp According to Sagrera, the Electoral Court of Rio Grande do Sul is mobilized to expand actions to combat disinformation. He highlighted that TRE-RS must present to society and the press the guidelines of a permanent working group aimed at combating fake news. The secretary reinforced that, when faced with suspicious content, voters should look for official sources before sharing any information. "The best way to verify the news, whether it is true or not, is to check it. If you, voter, are suspicious of any information, look for the TSE and TRE portals", he said. In a period marked by the accelerated circulation of content on social networks, Sagrera argued that professional journalism has a central role in combating disinformation. "It's fundamental. Professional journalism is our great ally in this fight", he stated. "There is no full democracy without the truth. And the truth is synonymous with professional journalism." Sagrera also warned of profiles that present themselves as journalists on social media, but that do not follow professional investigation criteria. For him, this type of action can contribute to the dissemination of false information and confuse voters. “We often end up seeing that on social media, false journalists take advantage of the importance of the internet and the way it is broadcast, and end up posting untruths,” he said. “Professional journalism is the way to combat this type of action.” In addition to misinformation, the secretary highlighted the Electoral Court's concern with abstention. According to him, TRE-RS is running a campaign to defend the importance of voting and dialogue with leaders, institutions and press outlets in different regions of the state. In the 2024 elections, Rio Grande do Sul came in sixth place in the ranking of absenteeism at the polls, with almost 25% abstention, according to Sagrera. For him, the index draws attention in a state historically marked by political participation. “It is a number that does not match the reality of Rio Grande do Sul, which has always been an extremely politicized state and which likes a good debate”, he stated. TRE-RS Headquarters Mateus Bruxel/Agência RBS VIDEOS: Everything about RS