How important is it today to be able to recognise a fake news story? In a world where information travels fast, fostering critical thinking has become essential. The event QYourself – Beyond Fake News offered practical tools to help participants navigate the complex landscape of online disinformation.
Held on 29 July 2025 at the EPYC in Palermo, the event was a space for dialogue and reflection on the role of disinformation in social dynamics – especially in digital contexts.
It brought together young people interested in media, communication, and active citizenship, guided by two moderators from the partner organisations CESIE and CSC. The special guest of the event was Alessandro Lombardi, an expert in journalism and information.
The importance of reflecting on the impact of disinformation
In a context where artificial intelligence and social media increasingly shape people’s perception of reality, developing critical thinking skills is essential to take an active part in democratic life and to counter the spread of hate and disinformation.
Through an interactive presentation and discussions, participants explored:
- the concept of media education, and the importance of providing young people and adults with the tools to understand how information is produced, shared, and manipulated;
- how fake news works – how it originates, why it spreads so quickly, and what effects it has on society and public debate;
- good journalistic practices to combat disinformation, and the need to promote a digital culture based on responsibility, fact-checking, and empathy online.
During the event, the materials developed within the QYourself project were presented, along with other useful resources for those wishing to explore the topic further. Participants warmly welcomed the materials and expressed their intention to put them into practice.
Looking ahead: the future of media education
The event was also an opportunity to reflect on how to integrate media education into both formal and non-formal learning paths – a key step towards building a society of responsible, aware citizens.
Discover how to promote more mindful and responsible media use with QYourself – download the free resources at: https://qyourself.eu
About QYOURSELF
QYourself – Question what you get. Media Education to Combat Misinformation is a project funded by the Erasmus+: Key Action 2, Cooperation partnerships in adult education programme.
Partners
- UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA (Spain, coordinator)
- IBERIKA EDUCATION GROUP GGMBH (Germany)
- STIMMULI FOR SOCIAL CHANGE (Greece)
- CESIE ETS (Italy)
- X Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace im. prof. Stefana Banacha w Toruniu (Poland)
- FUNDACIÓN MALDITA.ES CONTRA LA DESINFORMACION PERIODISMO EDUCACION INVESTIGACION Y DATOS EN NUEVOS FORMATOS (Spain)
For further information
Read more about Qyourself. Visit the website https://qyourself.eu/.
Contact Giuseppe Romeo: giuseppe.romeo@cesie.org.
