Disinformation and media literacy: A curriculum proposal on verification and fact-checking for Communication students
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Introduction: Interest in media literacy has grown exponentially in light of the global challenges posed by disinformation in the current media context. This study responds to this demand through unique research. Having identified significant deficiencies in disinformation and verification within university education, we have investigated these with the aim of proposing a curriculum model for a course on disinformation and fact-checking that addresses the identified needs. Methodology: A qualitative methodology combining focus group discussions and group interviews was used to analyze how journalism students perceive disinformation, fact-checking organizations and the training they need in this context. The focus groups and the group interview were conducted at Universitat Pompeu Fabra, University Carlos III of Madrid, and Mondragon University, with a total of 26 participants. Results: The main result is the development of a proposal for a university curriculum on disinformation and journalistic verification, aimed at journalism and communication studies, which responds to the current interest in including content on disinformation as part of media literacy initiatives. It also addresses the shortcomings previously identified in journalism studies in Spanish universities regarding misinformation and verification, as well as students' demands for this training to play a central role. Discussion and conclusions: The results served as the basis for a curriculum proposal entitled ‘Journalistic Verification in the Age of Disinformation’, which has a strong practical character based on a solid theoretical foundation, allowing students to learn how to detect disinformation while using professional verification tools.
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Agencia Estatal de Investigación
Grant numbers PID2019- 106367GB-100
References
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