ICCO Launches Industry-First Mis/Disinformation Training & Certification Program to Combat Global Information Crisis

CCO Launches Industry-First Mis/Disinformation Training & Certification Program to Combat Global Information Crisis

Leading Global Communications Organization Equips up to 100 PR Professionals with Expert-Led Certification as Misinformation Named Top Planetary Risk by World Economic Forum

October 15 – December 15, 2026 | Online Program with Global Reach

London/Mumbai 16 September 2026 - The International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) has announced the launch of its flagship Mis/Disinformation Training & Certification Program, designed to equip communications professionals with the critical skills needed to identify, counter, and prevent misinformation and disinformation in an increasingly volatile information ecosystem.

Echoing the World Economic Forum's 2024, 2025 and 2026 Global Risk Reports, which identifies misinformation and disinformation as leading short-term risks to global stability, the program addresses an urgent need for trained professionals who can protect organisational reputation and public trust. The initiative builds on ICCO's six-year commitment to combating false information, including pro-bono support to the European Medicines Agency in 2021 during the COVID-19 infodemic and the development of industry-leading resources including the "Tackling Mis/Disinformation: A Global Digital Handbook for Communicators" (2025).

Today's information landscape presents unprecedented challenges. Algorithmic fragmentation has divided the information society into isolated digital ecosystems, while artificial intelligence has emerged as both a powerful tool for creating disinformation and detecting it. This dual nature of AI requires communications professionals to understand both the threats and opportunities it presents. Adding urgency to these concerns: when major social platforms terminated agreements with third-party fact-checking entities in select regions, 82% of communicators surveyed by ICCO expressed strong opposition to the decision, highlighting industry consensus that credible fact-checking partnerships – along with pre-bunking, preparation and organisational design – remain essential to combating false information.

Program Highlights

The comprehensive online program, limited to up to 100 trainees, runs from October 15 to December 15, 2026, and covers six core modules plus final test:

1. Disinformation 101 – Understanding definitions, characteristics, and counter-strategies

2. The Basics of Fact-Checking and Source Verification – Practical tools for audiovisual content verification

3. Analysing the Spread of (Dis)information – Translating dissemination dynamics into crisis response strategies

4. Media Literacy and Crisis Preparation – Addressing ecosystem vulnerabilities and mitigation tactics in crisis playbooks

5. Reporting, Correcting, and Responding – Strategic escalation and response procedures

6. Generative AI, Search, and New Challenges – Understanding AI-driven disinformation risks and organisational mitigation

Final Test and Certification – Earning industry-recognised credential

Audiences

The program is designed for agency and in-house Communications and PR advisors, Corporate and Public Affairs Consultants, Brand Managers, Social Media professionals, and Journalists – a rare tri-audience approach that creates valuable networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities.

"As misinformation and disinformation become increasingly sophisticated and consequential, communications professionals must evolve from reactive crisis managers to strategic defenders of truth, trust and business," said Massimo Moriconi, ICCO President. "This certification program reflects our commitment to equipping the communications industry with the knowledge, tools, and community needed to meet this defining challenge of our time particularly as AI continues to reshape both the creation and detection of false information."

Giovanni Zagni, Pagella Politica/Facta’s Director: “We are very proud to be partnering with ICCO in this ground-breaking certification program. We want to bridge the gap between fact-checking practitioners and the communications industry, as well as the business community at large. Mis- and disinformation needs to be tackled with a collective effort, and this program will give all the practical and intellectual tools in order to do so.”

About ICCO

The International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) is a global voice of communications, public relations, and public affairs professionals. Since 2021, ICCO has led industry-wide efforts to combat misinformation and disinformation, partnering with organisations including the Council of Europe, The Trust Project, EACD, GWPR, AMEC, and EUPRERA. Notable initiatives include the Media Information and Education Pledge (2023) and the Future PR Student Competition (2024-2025).