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BS Econ students win Intn鈥檒 Anti-Fake News Challenge

Oct 16 2024

Two MSU-IIT students were crowned champions in a competition designed to combat fake news and disinformation that was participated in by youth delegates from ASEAN Member States (AMS), Timor-Leste, and Australia.

Third-year BS Economics students, Mr. Jafar S. Zamora and Mr. Al-Gafar C. Mauna, won the Digital SPARK Challenge 2024 that was held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on September 30 to October 3, 2024. 

Co-hosted by the Government of Australia and the Government of Indonesia, in collaboration with The Asia Foundation and Love Frankie, the Digital SPARK Challenge provided a platform for the youth to exchange ideas and pitch innovative social media campaigns to combat fake news. 

The four-day immersive workshop guided up to 21 teams—two teams from each participating country—through hands-on activities, equipping them with the skills needed to identify and mitigate fake news while understanding its societal impact. Delegates were also trained in communication and advocacy strategies to create powerful online campaigns addressing this issue.

On the third day of the competition, all 21 teams presented their initial pitches during the Qualification Round. After careful evaluation, six teams were selected to proceed to the fourth day and the final round which included Zamora and Mauna who were collectively known as the “NoFake Duo”. 

Finalists from Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Timor-Leste, and the Philippines were announced in the final day of the event, and each team was given five minutes to pitch their refined campaign ideas in front of all the experienced judges, guests, and participants on the spot, followed by a five-minute question and answer session.

In the final round, Zamora and Mauna’s project, Raising Empowerment for the Youth in Appropriate Media and Information Literacy (Project REYAL), stood out for its potential to have real impact. 

The NoFake Duo's project was ultimately chosen as the best, recognized as the most compelling solution to combat fake news among the six finalists. The first runner-up was The Overland from Australia, while the second runner-up was Team Srikandi from Indonesia.

As the champions of the Digital SPARK Challenge 2024, Zamora and Mauna will receive funding and mentorship to implement their campaign. Additionally, their project will be promoted through ASEAN’s official communication channels, amplifying its reach across the region. 

This win is a proud moment for the Philippines and for MSU-IIT, as it highlights MSU-IIT's potential to foster leaders capable of driving positive change on a global scale. 

 

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