Gender biases in fake news : how is gender employed in fake news against female candidates?

The objective of this study is to analyze how gender is employed in fake news against female candidates. Fake news is not an entirely new problem, however the internet has allowed for its extensive and quick diffusion, which presents new challenges. According to Shao et al. (2017) the widespread reach of fake news is a major global risk; in that it may affect election outcomes and threaten democracies. One of the ways an election result may be influenced, is if fake news containing gendered attacks against female candidates is widespread. Women pursuing high-level positions of power normally associated with men have often been the target of prejudice, because their candidacy goes against the gendered social norms still existent in our society (Manne, 2018). This leaves women in politics at a disadvantage from the beginning, given that men and women possessing the same attributes or carrying out the same kinds of actions may be perceived differently by voters or get a different reaction from the public (Manne, 2018). The 2016 U.S. presidential election, which was a turning point in terms of widespread concern over the impact of fake news in modern democracies, is used as a case study to investigate questions of gender biases in politics, and the portrayals of female candidates in fake news. This study uses a qualitative content analysis of over 100 fake news stories, independently verified as “false” by a fact-checking organization, that mention Hillary Clinton and/or Donald Trump, and that were spread in 2016, in order to identify potential gender-related patterns in the quantity, type or topic of the most shared fake news stories. The results of this study show that fake news content, disseminated during this time period, often played on gender biases already engrained in society to benefit or disparage different candidates. This study contributes to the fight against fake news, by helping show how gender is also being used in the fabrication of fake news content, to manipulate and influence social media users, and potentially impact election results. Existing gender stereotypes regarding political candidates seem to be used in fake news to hinder female candidates

Handbook for career development: Introduction to the ILO framework for career development in low- and middle-income countries

This handbook introduces an adaptable career development framework that can be used to support the work of teachers, public employment service workers, policymakers, programme developers and careers practitioners. The handbook primarily targets those working in and supporting the education system and youth development, although it can also be applied in public and private employment services, human resource management and welfare systems. Given its stronger applicability in formal education and training environments, this handbook is especially valuable for middle income countries (MIC) with a large young population. The handbook builds on the ILO’s existing Career guidance: A resources handbook for low- and middle-income countries which sets out the value of career guidance and provides an overview of the ways in which countries can implement a career guidance system. This handbook moves on to set out the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) career development framework. This provides detailed ideas about the content and focus of career guidance programmes and interventions as well as ideas about how it can be implemented in the wider education and employment system. This is then illustrated with examples and insights about how this can be implemented in different contexts. This handbook is designed to be a practical guide, but for those who want further detail, it is published alongside a theoretical paper entitled The development of the ILO’s framework for career development. The handbook is to be complemented with practical implementation tools, the first of which, A guide to work experience, looks at how the framework can be implemented through work experience programmes. Further tools are expected to be developed to support field interventions and projects. The handbook was developed for the ILO by Tristram Hooley (University of Derby), Hannah Blake (University of Derby), and Pedro Moreno da Fonseca (International Labour Organization)

The Comparison Study of Short-Term Prediction Methods to Enhance the Model Predictive Controller Applied to Microgrid Energy Management

Electricity load forecasting, optimal power system operation and energy management play key roles that can bring significant operational advantages to microgrids. This paper studies how methods based on time series and neural networks can be used to predict energy demand and production, allowing them to be combined with model predictive control. Comparisons of different prediction methods and different optimum energy distribution scenarios are provided, permitting us to determine when short-term energy prediction models should be used. The proposed prediction models in addition to the model predictive control strategy appear as a promising solution to energy management in microgrids. The controller has the task of performing the management of electricity purchase and sale to the power grid, maximizing the use of renewable energy sources and managing the use of the energy storage system. Simulations were performed with different weather conditions of solar irradiation. The obtained results are encouraging for future practical implementation