Meet the Speakers


 

Sophie Eyears is a Strategic Partner Development Manager for News Integrity and Training at META. She leads Facebook & Instagram's Third Party Fact-Checking Program for Europe. Sophie has been at Facebook for over 5 years working with News partners across Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

Vincent Couronne is the director of Les Surligneurs, a legal fact-checking media outlet based in France. He has a Ph.D in European law from Sorbonne University. Vincent is a member of the Governance Body and treasurer of the EFCSN. He also teaches law and disinformation at Paris-Saclay University and Sciences Po Saint-Germain, and is a researcher at the Versailles Institutions Publiques research center.

Vazha Tavberidze is a staff writer with RFE/RL's Georgian Service. As a journalist and political analyst, he has covered issues of international security, post-Soviet conflicts, and Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. His writing has been published in various Georgian and international media outlets, including The Times, The Spectator, The Daily Beast, and IWPR.

Viktoriia Romaniuk is a visiting Professor of UC3M of Madrid, Deputy Director at Mohyla School of Journalism (NaUKMA), and Deputy Chief Editor at StopFake.org. Worked as the head of the Master's Program in Media Communications at the Ukrainian Catholic University, as an associate professor at the Department of Media Communications at UCU. Member of the methodological group for the development of updated training programs within the media literacy project "Learn to Discern" (IREX)

Paweł Terpiłowski is an Editor-in-Chief and Vice-President of the Demagog Association. Doctor of social sciences in the discipline of political and administration sciences, an expert on eastern affairs of the Ambitna Polska Foundation. Member of the board of the European Fact-checking Standards Network (EFCSN) and of the Permanent Working Group monitoring the implementation of the Code of Conduct on Disinformation. In 2022, he was a member of the Working Group on disinformation about the war in Ukraine, established at the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO)

Tamar Kintsurashvili is the Executive Director at MDF and the Editor-in-Chief at Myth Detector.  She is a member of Deutsche Welle Akademie Media and Information Literacy Experts Network (MILEN) and the UNESCO MIL Alliance nomination committee. Tamar is an author and co-author of numerous research papers and publications on Russian information warfare in Ukraine, Anti-Gender and Anti-LGBTQI Mobilization in Georgia, Infodemic, anti-Western propaganda, Kremlin Influence Index, media literacy and media self-regulation.

Aistė Meidutė has been actively fighting disinformation since 2017. At first she was analyzing disinformation and propaganda narratives coming from Russia at a project initiated by Delfi Lithuania 'Demaskuok'. Since 2018 she works as an editor and lead fact-checker for Delfi Lithuania fact-checking initiative 'Melo detektorius'. In 2021 she joined DIGIRES (Baltic Research Foundation for Digital Resilience) project as a fact-checker, consultant and media literacy lecturer and is currently involved in BECID (Baltic Excellence Center for Combating Information Disorders) HUB activities. 

Viorica Zaharia is an investigative journalist with over 20 years of experience in the Moldovan media. She has worked for Radio Free Europe, for a TV channel, for the Center for Investigative Journalism and the Association of Independent Press. She has experience in elaborating textbooks for media literacy discipline in Moldovan schools and in several projects to counter disinformation. She is currently the president of the Press Council, a self-regulatory body in media and is a collaborator of the StopFals.md fact-checking platform.

Nino Gelashvili is a Senior Editor at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Tbilisi Bureau. She has been working for the RFE/RL Georgian Service since 1995. Nino worked for the RFE/RL’s Prague office from 2003 to 2005 as a broadcaster. She returned to the Tbilisi bureau and has been hosting several daily morning shows for the last 13 years. Now she hosts a daily radio/FB/Youtube show the Morning Talks, covering the most important current local and international news together with the guests in the studio and the audience. 
 

Jessikka Aro is an award-winning investigative reporter with the Finnish Broadcasting Company. Aro specializes in Russia, extremism, and information warfare. In 2014 she started to investigate pro-Kremlin social media troll techniques and influence on public debates outside of Russia's borders; now, her reporting is widely quoted and used in international troll investigations. Aro's best-selling investigative book "Putin's  Trolls" has been translated into Georgian by the Media Development Foundation and published by Ilia State University. 

Jaba Devdariani is a foreign affairs professional and former international civil servant, editor, and analyst with over 20 years of experience. Jaba is also a co-founder of Civil.ge.

Nino Dolidze is an Executive Director of the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED). Before joining ISFED, she worked at the International Republican Institute (IRI) for eight years, leading the Election Program, Developing Multi-party Democracy and Political Empowerment of Women. 

Mariam Tsitsikashvili holds the position of project manager and research fellow at Georgia’s Reforms Associates (GRASS). She supervises projects related to European integration, foreign state-sponsored disinformation and malign influence. Her research interest thus includes: foreign and security policy. She also serves as a non-resident fellow at Prague based European Values Center for Security policy. 

Sandro Gigauri has been working as the English Content Editor at MDF’s fact-checking platform Myth Detector since 2021, specializing in information environment research. He has co-authored a number of publications, including: ‘Russian Information Warfare: Two Months After the Invasion in Ukraine” and “Media Literacy Sector Mapping in Georgia.” Before joining MDF, Sandro was a contributor analyst at Oxford Analytica.

Lilia Cravcenco is the director of the Transparency-International Moldova. She was previously the editorial coordinator for the Association of Independent Press (API) in Moldova and managed editorial operations for ProFact Moldova, an International Center for Journalists program that mobilized Moldovan journalists to counter disinformation and expose the actors and networks behind it. Throughout her career, she has worked both as a fact-checker and an educator in the field of fact-checking and media literacy.

Karen Harutyunyan is an Editor-in-Chief at Civilnet. He graduated from Yerevan State University’s Department of International Relations, where he majored in history. Karen has been a media leader for decades, serving as editor-in-chief of “Capital” business daily newspaper and Tert.am news site . Before that, he worked at World Vision as a rural development project manager, and at the International Committee of the Red Cross in Nagorno-Karabakh as a Public Relations Officer. 

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Mikheil Benidze is Chief of Party at the Georgia Information Integrity Program at Zinc Network. Mikheil has a decade of experience working on promoting democracy, electoral integrity, and human rights, and tackling disinformation, working with and coordinating a broad range of actors throughout Georgia, Europe, and the United States.  He has spent a significant part of his career with the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), including as Executive Director in 2016-2020. 

Antoine Grégoire develops open-source intelligence (OSINT) methodologies for NGOs and European Institutes. After studying history and intelligence he started researching disinformation and investigating networks ages ago when it was called other names. Conspiracy theories, sectarian drifts and cults, debunking. he turned into OSINT while covering the revolution in Syria.

Sopo Gelava is a research associate for the Caucasus with the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab. Sopo teaches fact-checking and verification and disinformation analysis courses at the University of Georgia (UG).

Valentin Châtelet is a research associate for security at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab based in Belgium. Châtelet researches disinformation, ethnic movements, and political activism throughout post-Soviet countries, the Baltic states, Russia, and Belarus. As a self-taught programmer, he has worked for the French private sector as a geographic information systems engineer, developing software for geolocation purposes. He has also worked with the French defense ministry as data-driven analyst on war areas specializing in open-source intelligence and social media. 

Jubo leads information literacy projects at ForSet, data-driven CSO based in Tbilisi. He works in two directions: empowering civil society with open data and providing digital literacy to vulnerable groups of society. Data for Crisis Fellowship, AskGov.ge project and DataFest Tbilisi are among his contributions in the open data community. 

Olha Bilousenko is a media researcher, data analyst, disinformation analyst, expert in the field of LGBT disinformation, and gender disinformation, and author of large thematic studies of Russian disinformation in Ukraine

Giorgi Gogua is a Journalist and a Co-Founder of the Explanatory Media platform, 64.  For more than 10 years he’s been working for Georgian and International media outlets, such as Liberali Magazine, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, National Geographic etc. He has worked as a consultant, trainer and content editor with Georgian regional media outlets for Internews Georgia and Deutsche Welle. Since 2021, he has been an editor in chief of Mediachcker – Georgian Media Watchdog Platform.

Nino is the country director of IREX’s Georgia Office. Concurrent with this position, she manages the Europe Center, an initiative of IREX’s SAFE program. She has over 15 years of experience in journalism, media management, media relations, research and advocacy, civic activism, and project management. Nino works with the IREX global team and partners around the world to develop and foster solidarity and partnership between journalists, social communicators, and other stakeholders to build strong, collegial, and lasting relationships for a more safe and free media environment in Europe’s Eastern Partnership countries.

Mariam Nikuradze is a Co-founder and Executive Director at the Open Caucasus Media (OC Media). Mariam is a veteran journalist with over 10 years of experience under her belt. She is passionate about gender equality and workers’ rights.

Mariam Gersamia is a professor and media psychologist at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU, Georgia). With 23 years of experience in academia, she was in charge of the journalism and mass communication department and programs (2010-2015)  and is currently in charge of the English language graduate program “Media Psychology and Communications” at TSU. Besides her academic career, she cooperated with local and international organizations. She is the manager of media programs at “Transparency International – Georgia” and is a founder of the CSO “Media Voice”.

Vanya Tsvetkova is an interactive learning designer at Poynter’s MediaWise. She develops curricula in a variety of formats to teach fact-checking and digital media literacy skills to audiences of all ages in the U.S. and abroad. Vanya is also an adjunct instructor in journalism at The University of Tampa. She is a USF alumna holding a bachelor’s in broadcast production and a master’s in digital journalism and design. Currently, Vanya is working on a doctorate at USF in curriculum and instruction with a specialization in instructional technology.

Klinta Locmele is a Senior Researcher at the Baltic Centre for Media Excellence and a Doctor of Communication Science, researcher at the Advanced Social and Political Research Institute of the University of Latvia. Lecturer of study courses on media literacy, journalism in the era of disinformation, Latvian media environment, communication theory and practice at the University of Latvia, Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences and Turība University. Besides academic work, she is a practical media literacy trainer for librarians, teachers and youth, and a manager and educational content creator of media literacy projects. 

Tetiana has 19 years of experience in journalism and 9 years of experience in the field of countering propaganda and manipulation. She works as a mentor, trainer and consultant with Internews (in Ukraine and Moldova), IREX Ukraine, Deutsche Welle Akademie and others. She is a co-author and trainer of the media literacy project "Learn and Discern: Infomedia Literacy" from IREX Ukraine and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (2018-2023). Tetiana was a co-author and trainer of the media literacy project "Filter" from the OSCE and the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine (2021)

Ani Yeghiazaryan is a Media Literacy Project Manager at the Media Initiatives Center. She is a media and communication specialist with a background in journalism and experience in PR and marketing, with a core interest in media literacy education and teaching.

Arabella Kordzakhia is a Media Programs Manager at Media Development Foundation (MDF). She holds a Master's Degree in Journalism and Social Communication from Adam Mickiewicz University and a Bachelor's degree in Business Management (Tourism) from Ilia State University. 

Before joining MDF, she worked as a news journalist at TV Formula and was an author/presenter of the education column in the morning show. 

Ana Keshelashvili is a Professor of Mass Communication at the Caucasus School of Journalism and Media Management. She received her Ph.D. in Mass Communications from South Carolina and her Master of Mass Communications degree from Louisiana State University. She is also an alumna of the Caucasus School of Journalism and Media Management. Keshelashvili's research interests lie mainly in journalism education, technology development effects on communication, and citizen journalism. 

Irakli Iagorashvili is a Myth Detector Laboratory Alumnus. He is also the co-founder and CEO of the Ayn Rand Center Georgia (ARCG). He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science.

Nika Gurini is a  Myth Detector Laboratory Alumnus. He is also a founder of EuroClub in Kvareli, Georgia - a hub for young people for education and development. 

Ekaterine Janiashvili is a is a Myth Detector Laboratory Alumna. Currently, she works as a Social Media Researcher at the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED). Her job is to study and uncover information manipulations and propaganda on social media platforms.

Asli Ismayılzade is a Myth Detector Laboratory Alumna. She is a journalist from Azerbaijan with 5 years of experience. Asli is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Multimedia Journalism and Media Management at the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA).

Arpine Hovhannisyan is a Myth Detector Laboratory Alumna. She has obtained her Bachelor’s degree in English and Communications from the American University of Armenia. She is currently gathering expertise in investigative journalism at Hetq Media Factory. Arpine has previously worked at the UNHCR and Radio Liberty.

Syuzanna Noroyan is a Myth Detector Laboratory Alumna. She is studying International Relations at Yerevan State University. She is originally from Gyumri. Syuzanna has experience working as an English teacher for children.

Maiko Ratiani is a deputy editor of Myth Detector - MDF's fact-checking platform. Maiko is a co-author of a number of publications, such as: “Media Literacy Sector Mapping in Georgia, Latvia, Moldova and Ukraine”, Mapping research: "Comparing Foreign Influence in Georgia”, “Russian and Chinese Influences in Georgia - 2021 Update”.  Maiko is an alumna of Myth Detector Lab and one of the winners of the Multimedia Content competition.

Tinatin Tvauri has been working for the Media Development Foundation (MDF) since April 2022. She is a fact-checker at Myth Detector and OSINT trainer in English & and Russian languages. Before joining MDF she worked as a journalist for the online media platform Tabula.

Giorgi Lomsadze is a journalist covering news from Georgia and across the Former Soviet Union. As a senior correspondent with EurasiaNet.org, he specializes in the South Caucasus politics and has a 20-year record of covering the region. Mr. Lomsadze’s work has been published in a number of leading international news outlets (Wall Street Journal, NPR, The Guardian, etc).  

Marta Ardashelia has over 15 years of experience in journalism covering Georgian foreign affairs, relations Russia and the situation in occupied regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Marta is a founder and editor-in-chief of the independent Russian language online magazine about Georgia – SOVA.News. By producing engaging content and speaking loudly about propaganda and disinformation, SOVA.News focuses on media literacy among its Russian-speaking audience.

Nino Bakradze is an editor and co-founder of Investigative Journalists' Team iFact based in Tbilisi, Georgia. Nino is a graduate of the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA) Media Management and Journalism Master's Degree program. She has 7 years of experience as a journalist and 4 years of experience as an investigative reporter. Currently, Bakradze is a data journalism lecturer at GIPA.

Tazo Kupreishvili has been the editor of the online publication Netgazeti since 2018. With a career that began in 2009, he has primarily worked as a news reporter for various Georgian media outlets. Kupreishvili also worked for the media criticism platform "Mediachecker," where he played a key role in uncovering fake news and debunking Russian propaganda narratives. Additionally, he has co-authored studies, including "Russian Influences in Georgian Media" (2015), "Russian Influences in Georgian Non-Governmental Organizations" (2015), and "Russian Interests in Georgian Business" (2021-2022).

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Hatia Jinjikhadze has joined the Open Society Georgia Foundation in 2009, as a Media Support Program Manager. Hatia graduated from the Department of Oriental Studies of Tbilisi State University. She worked in the Caucasus studies at the Universities of Tbilisi and Helsinki. In 1991-92 she worked as a Press Assistant to the President of Georgia and left the country as a result of a political turmoil. In 1999 she moved back to Georgia and joined the U.S. Embassy. In 2000-2009 she worked as an Information Assistant in the Embassy’s Public Affairs Section. Interacting, monitoring and analyzing media on a daily basis left her with a wide range of contacts and a good knowledge of local and international media. Hatia Jinjikhadze is a winner of the US State Department awards.