Veteran Reporter Jane Lytvynenko to Lead Workshops at GlobalFact Conference
As the global landscape of misinformation continues to evolve, veteran journalist Jane Lytvynenko is set to lead critical training sessions at the upcoming GlobalFact conference in Vilnius, Lithuania. Lytvynenko, a senior technology reporter for NBC News Digital, rose to prominence in 2016 while investigating foreign influence operations and hyper-partisan networks for BuzzFeed News. In an interview ahead of the summit, she reflected on her career trajectory, noting that the rise of online propaganda necessitated a specialized approach to journalism where breaking news events often serve as prime targets for bad-faith actors seeking to manipulate the information environment.
Lytvynenko’s workshops at GlobalFact aim to equip attendees with practical, high-impact tools for digital investigation, with a particular focus on the messaging platform Telegram. Often described by some as the “dark web in your pocket,” Telegram remains an underutilized resource that plays a vital role in capturing real-time evidence during international conflicts. Lytvynenko plans to teach reporters how to leverage the platform’s unique metadata features and its vast ecosystem—which functions as a hybrid of social media and communication channels—to conduct advanced source searching and track the dissemination of visual evidence.
Beyond technological platforms, Lytvynenko is championing the “integration of digital properties” into traditional, legacy reporting methods. Her second workshop, “Interviewing for OSINT” (Open-Source Intelligence), stresses that digital evidence, such as satellite imagery or geolocated video, should not exist in a silo apart from human reporting. By incorporating these digital findings directly into the interviewing process—such as asking sources to provide context for verified satellite images—journalists can create more robust, evidence-backed narratives that bridge the gap between technical data and on-the-ground reality.
Addressing the broader state of the industry, Lytvynenko identified the rise of artificial intelligence as a double-edged sword for modern journalists. While acknowledging that AI presents significant threats through the generation of fabricated images, videos, and entire fake news outlets, she also pointed to its utility in simplifying complex workflows. She shared that she personally employs AI tools to analyze large volumes of data from Telegram channels and to process vast document sets, effectively lowering the barrier to entry for reporters who may lack formal coding or deep technical training.
Lytvynenko also voiced concerns regarding the current state of the fact-checking industry, specifically within the United States. She noted a troubling trend: while the reach and influence of misinformation remain unabated, there has been a notable, simultaneous contraction in academic research, a reduction in data transparency from major social media platforms, and a withdrawal of corporate funding for fact-checking initiatives. In contrast to Europe’s more regulatory-focused approach, the U.S. appears to be currently struggling to maintain a sustainable model for the industry, prompting a need for journalists to seek alternative, stable funding sources that are not tied to the fickle nature of big-tech partnerships.
Ultimately, Lytvynenko’s message to her colleagues centers on the necessity of vigilance and adaptation. As misinformation campaigns become increasingly targeted—often aimed specifically at neutralizing reporters—the mastery of basic verification skills and the adoption of open-source intelligence methods have shifted from optional advantages to essential requirements. As she prepares to share these secrets of the trade in Vilnius, Lytvynenko remains clear-eyed about the challenge: while the fight against online manipulation is far from won in any corner of the globe, the ability to integrate modern digital investigation into core journalism remains the profession’s strongest defense.
