At the Fabrique de la Diplomatie: CFI raises awareness and mobilises against disinformation
On 4 and 5 September 2026, the Fabrique de la Diplomatie, a major back-to-school event organised by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE), once again confirmed CFI’s key role amongst the actors involved in France’s external action.
CFI, the French Media Development Agency, organised several sessions there, in partnership with its parent organisation France Médias Monde (FMM), both at a joint stand and as part of the event’s wider programme.
A stand for discussion and discovery
Over two days, CFI’s teams took turns engaging with a diverse audience from across France, notably young people studying at secondary school and university level.
At the heart of the discussions: the role of diplomacy and the media in tackling disinformation. The questions, sometimes technical, often thought-provoking, came flooding in. They reflect a younger generation that is keen to stay informed and get involved.
AI and disinformation, and an enthusiastic audience
FMM and CFI welcomed speakers selected for their expertise and teaching skills: journalists Nathan Gallo and Grégory Genévrier, as well as Florian Gauthier, co-founder of LaReponse.tech and its artificial intelligence (AI) system ASKVERA.
The debates, which focused in part on artificial intelligence and disinformation, attracted a full house at every session. The discussions, which were at times lively, addressed crucial topics: how the media works, the impact of artificial intelligence on journalism, and practical ways to combat disinformation.
These discussions not only enlightened the audience but also demonstrated CFI and FMM’s ability to unite around a common cause.
Cartoon journalism to make sense of the news
At the invitation of France Médias Monde and CFI, the Cartooning for Peace association organised:
- a session with Kak, a political cartoonist, who presented and discussed various aspects of the profession;
- a dual exhibition of political cartoons taken from books produced in collaboration with CFI and France Médias Monde respectively.
The exhibition attracted a great deal of interest and even inspired young people to try their hand at drawing on a mural made available to the public!
Discover the ‘Cartooning for Africa’ handbook – an illustrated fact-checking tool created by Cartooning for Peace, CFI, Africa Check and ZimFact as part of the Desinfox programmes.
Expertise from abroad: a round-table discussion with a journalist and an academic in exile in France
Visitors to the Fabrique de la diplomatie were able to benefit from the expertise of CFI’s partners. A journalist from Voices in exile and an academic from the National Emergency Reception Programme for Scientists and Artists in Exile (PAUSE) led a discussion on artificial intelligence and authoritarian abuses.
In front of a packed classroom, Ali Mahfoud, a journalist who specialises in cybersecurity issues, and Iurii Trusov, a researcher and PhD holder in political science, analysed the trends that are turning technology into an anti-democratic weapon.
The discussion, moderated by Vincent Berthier, head of the Technology and Journalism desk at Reporters Without Borders, provided an opportunity to explore concepts such as digital authoritarianism and surveillance capitalism. The discussion also covered the use of AI in China and Russia, digital control systems and mass data collection.
Minister Jean-Noël Barrot meets with representatives from both CFI and France Médias Monde
This edition of La Fabrique de la Diplomatie was also marked by a visit to the stand by Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Welcomed by Marie-Christine Saragosse, Chief Executive of France Médias Monde, and Emmanuelle Talon, Chief Executive of CFI, he was able to witness young people’s enthusiasm for careers in journalism and the fight against disinformation.
This was a significant recognition for CFI, a key player in French diplomacy. Small in structure but big in impact, CFI has once again demonstrated that it rises to the challenge when Team France reaches major milestones.
