Learn to combat digital disinformation at the URJC

Núria Ripoll

Numerous recent studies have shown that although digital skills have increased in recent years, both university teachers and students are neither immune nor less vulnerable to fake news and disinformation online. Disinformation techniques are increasingly sophisticated and it is therefore more complex to detect when intentional actions are taking place aimed at conditioning public opinion. 

The VII Conference on Digital Communication, focused on students and teachers and with the aim of teaching digital skills, will try to promote tools aimed at reducing social polarization, combating fake news and disinformation. On the other hand, the 'Superpowers' initiative of the Maldita Foundation, the initiatives developed by the journalistic innovation and fact-checking laboratory, and the Erasmus+ Dominoes project will be presented.  

“These conferences are designed to teach university students how to act in the event that they find false news, how to address fast checkers, how information flows between social networks, or show how easy it is to introduce polarized narrative discourses and how to detect them” explains Manuel Gertrudix, professor of digital communication at the URJC and organizer of the conference.

To facilitate assistance to all those who want to participate, the activity can be attended in person and online. In addition, "young people will be able to talk to professionals in the sector, and reflect on the new challenges we face every day", adds the teacher.

This activity, part of the European Erasmus+ project, will take place in the Salón de Grados, departmental building I on the Fuenlabrada campus, from 9:30 a.m. to 14:15 p.m., and will be recognized with 0.25 ECTS credits.