COVID-19 has been fueled by an “infodemic” of misinformation, rumors, and fake news that have undermined public trust in the response. Rampant conspiracy theories and misinformation have become a huge problem for governments as they attempt to roll-out testing, tracing, and vaccination programs to bring the pandemic to an end. At the same time, businesses, civil society organizations, and international organizations are finding creative ways to debunk myths, disseminate validated information, and rebuild trust. This participatory session will explore how social innovators of all kinds can partner with governments to counter the infodemic around COVID-19 and develop new solutions- online and offline for this evolving challenge.
This session was curated in partnership with Accountability Lab.
Gautam is the Managing Director, Europe of Purpose. He has led a number of public campaigns and advocacy strategies across Europe, Kenya, India, and the US on youth policy, global health and digital rights. Most recently, Gautam is co-leading the United Nations Secretary General campaigning response to combat misinformation on COVID-19 which has reached over 1 billion people.Gautam joined Purpose from Oxfam International, where as Head of Digital Campaigns he headed the digital worldwide influencing strategy – an ambitious agenda to build the digital campaigning capacity of Oxfam and partners. There, he took on campaigns from Europe, Middle East, Latin America, Africa, and Asia, working with in-country teams, partners, and coalitions to mobilize around issues on land, climate change, inequality, and humanitarian crises. Under Gautam’s leadership, the digital worldwide influencing strategy has mobilized of 2.5 million supporters around the world and built tools and resources that were accessible to over 2,000 partners. Before joining Oxfam, Gautam co-founded OurSay.org – an independent organization started by a team of young people passionate about harnessing the power of social media to revitalize critical participation in democracy. He has also worked on public policy and external relations for Teach For Australia and in the Australian public service.Gautam has a Master’s in International Development and a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) and Arts (Advanced Chinese Mandarin). In his spare time, Gautam loves to cook, travel and play the bass guitar. He is a native of Melbourne, Australia and has lived in Shanghai, New Delhi and London.
As President and CEO of Internews, Jeanne Bourgault leads the strategic management of the organization and its programs in more than 80 countries around the world.
Bourgault has overseen Internews’ growth in areas underserved by local media, such as Afghanistan and South Sudan, and under her leadership Internews has led the growing sector of humanitarian information, expanded into US programs to meet unique domestic information gaps, developed strategies to address the growing challenges of digital information technology, and centered the information needs of women and girls throughout its programs. During her tenure, Internews has piloted and developed innovative programs including the Earth Journalism Network, United for News, and the Listening Post Collective.
Prior to Internews, Bourgault worked internationally in countries undergoing dramatic shifts in media and political landscapes. She joined Internews in 2001 as Vice President for Programs after six years with the U.S. Agency for International Development, including three years at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, and as a strategic advisor for media and community development programs in post-war Kosovo, Serbia, and Montenegro.
Bourgault has consulted on international program design and evaluation for the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Research Triangle Institute, and the United Nations Centre for Human Rights, among others.
Bourgault speaks on issues of global news, women’s media leadership, information technology, and participatory community development worldwide, including venues such as the Skoll World Forum, the Global Philanthropy Forum, and the World Economic Forum in Davos. She serves on the Media, Entertainment, and Information Industries Steering Committee for the World Economic Forum, and the Steering Committee of the Global Forum for Media Development.
Cheri-Leigh Erasmus serves as the Global Director of Learning at the Accountability Lab, a nonprofit organization aimed at making governance work for people by supporting active citizens, responsible leaders and accountable institutions She has spent more than a decade in the international higher education and international development arenas. Through her work in leadership development, she’s conceptualized and implemented leadership and skills development curricula for emerging leaders geared for careers in both the private and public sectors. In her current position, she oversees AL’s learning and impact as part of a team working with young leaders who are finding innovative ways to hold governments accountable in Nepal, Pakistan, Liberia, Nigeria, Mali, Niger, Mexico, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
