Dr. Rumena Filipova

2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Disinformation in BulgariaBulgaria

Headshot Rumena FilipovaDr. Rumena Filipova is chairperson and co-founder of the Institute for Global Analytics. Dr. Filipova received a doctor of Philosophy and masters of Philosophy in International Relations from the University of Oxford and a bachelor of arts in Politics, Psychology and Sociology from the University of Cambridge. Dr. Filipova has worked extensively in the think-tank sector, having held research fellowships at the Center for the Study of Democracy in Bulgaria, the Carnegie Moscow Center, the Polish Institute of International Affairs, the Centre for Liberal Strategies, Chatham House and the Cambridge Central Asia Forum.

Her current research focuses on the politics and international relations of Central and Eastern Europe, with a particular reference to questions of identity, constructivist international relations theory, media and disinformation. Her new book is entitled "Constructing the Limits of Europe: Identity and Foreign Policy in Poland, Bulgaria, and Russia since 1989." 
IVLP Impact Award Project: Disinformation in Bulgaria
The project’s main goal was to highlight the foreign authoritarian state-sponsored disinformation and provide solutions by relating the knowledge gained during the IVLP program to Bulgarian journalism students and media professionals. The project fulfilled several outstanding needs in the current media environment. Declining media standards have been coupled with a high degree of susceptibility to outside disinformation. Dealing with foreign authoritarian-state disinformation requires a well-prepared body of upcoming journalists.

The project featured capacity-building events and social media outreach. A 10-page briefing paper showcased Bulgarian journalistic portrayal of foreign investments across news outlets and social media pages. The capacity-building events included a lecture and workshop at the Faculty of Journalism, Sofia University, and presented cutting-edge insights on investigative journalism and audience engagement. There was another webinar discussion geared to Bulgarian journalists and media experts that will encourage cross-national comparisons. In this discussion, participants shared the specificities of foreign authoritarian-state disinformation in their countries. Finally, the project featured a five-minute video containing key insights from the project to reach a wider Bulgarian audience and a podcast series.

Podcast: Listen here
Video on Disinformation in Bulgaria: Watch here

 

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Rumena was a participant in the IVLP Project Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists: Media Responsibility in an Age of Disinformation II in 2021, organized by the U.S. Department of State and CRDF Global.

Her exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "The IVLP provided cutting-edge insights from leading American media specialists and facilitated discussions among emerging leaders from across the world. A pivotal conclusion points to the need for a multidimensional and global response to the challenges posed by propaganda and disinformation. "

U.S. Communities Visited Virtually

Huntsville, AL; Washington, DC; Tampa; FL; Minneapolis, MN; Columbia, SC

Country: Bulgaria

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