Global Voices: The Fight Against Disinformation in Bulgaria is almost Nonexistent, Says Journalist Ivan Georgiev

This story originally appeared on Meta.mk News Agency, a project of Metamorphosis Foundation. An edited version is published below as part of a content-sharing agreement.

Ivan Georgiev is a Bulgarian reporter and anchor for bTV, one of his country's leading TV stations. He has covered major international and regional events in the past few years and has directed several short documentaries.

In 2012, he was awarded the World Press Institute Fellowship. He is also the holder of several journalism awards, including The National Grand Award for Investigative Journalism, granted by "Radostina Konstantinova" Foundation. He holds a degree in journalism from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".

Meta.mk News Agency spoke with him about disinformation and manipulation of public opinion in Bulgaria and on the broader region, focusing on North Macedonia as a potential target for malicious content.

Meta.mk: What are the most noticeable manipulations and disinformation spread through the media in Bulgaria or Bulgarian language?

Ivan Georgiev (IG): We probably need to first differentiate between the main types of fake news thrown into the public space in Bulgaria. A closer look at the problem will clearly outline two main narratives - one directed towards the West (against the EU, NATO, the USA, and Western values in general). And second - fake news, directed against local Bulgarian independent media and journalists, politicians from the opposition, non-compliant businessman, intellectuals, and all those, who dare to criticize the political status quo in the country. They are often referred to as "Soros agents", "homosexuals","traitors", "supporters of anti Bulgarian and anti Christian...