Fuerteventura’s Fourth Summer University Wraps Up with Call for Critical Thinking Against Misinformation
Fuerteventura has concluded its Fourth Summer University (UVF), which gathered leading experts in journalism, communication, philosophy, and technology over five days to confront a pressing issue: misinformation and its impact on democratic society.
The closing day focused on practical tools to counteract misinformation, including journalistic verification, media literacy, and philosophical reflections on truth. The discussions emphasised the crucial roles that information and critical thinking play in fostering an informed and responsible citizenry.
Journalist Jorge Ocaña from EFE Verifica delivered the opening talk titled “You Are Not Immune: Why We Are All Vulnerable to Misinformation.” He highlighted that no one is entirely shielded from informational manipulation, discussing the psychological and communicative mechanisms that facilitate the spread of falsehoods and how misinformation often exploits personal biases and emotional responses.
Next, Estefanía de Antonio, head of Verification, Data Journalism, and Visual Narratives at RTVE, presented “VerificaRTVE: Anatomy of a Lie.” She outlined how specialised verification units work to identify false content, trace the sources of misinformation, and provide reliable information to the public. She also underscored the significance of data journalism and digital tools in combating fake news.
Philosopher Diego Garrocho followed with “Does Truth Exist?” He urged the audience to contemplate the essence of truth and its vital role in democratic coexistence amid the overwhelming influx of information. His talk stressed the need to champion critical thinking, rational debate, and a collective pursuit of knowledge to navigate today’s complex world.
The final presentation was given by Nereida Carrillo, president of Learn to Check and professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, who discussed “Media Education: Proposals to Counter Misinformation and Improve Democracies.” She advocated for media literacy as a vital tool for citizens to identify misleading content, understand digital ecosystems, and engage more consciously with information.
This edition of the UVF successfully brought together journalists, researchers, philosophers, communicators, political strategists, and verification specialists to address the challenges posed by misinformation to modern democracies.
The initiative received strong community support, reinforcing its status as a key platform for debate, dissemination, and critical thinking in the Canary Islands. Throughout the event, issues such as trust in media, the impact of algorithms on democracy, artificial intelligence, verification strategies, climate misinformation, political communication, and media education were explored, providing a comprehensive look at one of contemporary society’s most pressing phenomena.
