The phenomenon of disinformation is not new, but it has escalated dramatically over the past decade, alongside the rise of social media and digital algorithms. The 2016 U.S. presidential election marked a turning point: Donald Trump’s campaign brought the debate over fake news to the global stage, and since then, the political and informational landscape has been completely transformed.

Today, governments in several countries are accused of spreading disinformation, while at the same time, movements against freedom of information are gaining momentum across Europe and around the world. The rise of far-right and radical movements has further exacerbated the situation: social media has become a primary tool for spreading polarizing narratives, undermining the foundations of democracy.

Journalists have not been spared criticism either: they have often been accused of presenting information in a biased or distorted manner, and this has exacerbated the crisis of confidence in the media. Complex international contexts—wars, geopolitical conflicts, and humanitarian crises—further complicate the picture, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction.

For all these reasons, understanding the infodemic is an essential tool for navigating today’s society. In this course, experts in journalism, academia, and political communication will explain the causes of disinformation and provide citizens with resources to critically understand and interpret today’s information landscape.

HELBURUAK

This workshop has the following objectives:

• Clarifying the concepts of disinformation and infodemic using data from the Digital News Report study.

• To examine the political, social, and communicative dimensions of the phenomenon.

• Bringing together perspectives from journalism, science, and politics through an interdisciplinary roundtable discussion.

• To provide the general public with critical tools for consuming information in a responsible manner.

NORI ZUZENDUA

• For citizens interested in communication, journalism, or politics.

• To university students.

• Communication professionals.

This requires prior preparation.