Info & Registration
Free event but registration is mandatory via this link
When ? 03/04/2025, 13:30 – 15:30
Where ?
Room 6 / Local 6 (1st Floor)
UCLouvain Saint-Louis – Bruxelles
43, boulevard du Jardin Botanique
1000 – Bruxelles
During the first part of the presentation, Professor Dr Georgios Terzis will explore the complex relationship between strategic communication, public opinion, and disinformation in global contexts. He will highlight how governments worldwide rely on strategic communication management to influence foreign policy by controlling information flow, managing media, and crafting national images. Historical examples, including Napoleon’s mobilization of the masses and Nazi propaganda during World War II, will illustrate the long-standing role of disinformation in shaping public perception and influencing political outcomes.
Additionally, the presentation will examine disinformation in contemporary society, emphasizing the rise of fake news as a two-dimensional phenomenon. It will explain how fake news differs from legitimate news, primarily spreading through social media, yet reaching a smaller audience than assumed. The label “fake news” has become a powerful tool for political actors to discredit opposing views and legacy media, often without providing evidence of bias. This weaponization undermines public trust in democratic institutions and fosters self-censorship among journalists. The presentation will conclude by discussing how populist communication strategies exploit digital media’s accessibility, contributing to growing media criticism and the erosion of democratic discourse.
During the second part of the presentation, Nadia Tjahja will present the two dimensions of inoculation: fact-based inoculation and technique-based inoculation. Through these dimensions, we explore the different approaches the media and educators have in combatting fake news when confronted by disinformation. The presentation will further explore the concept of illusory truth and how it impacts us individually. Finally, we would present S.HI.E.L.D. vs Disinfo an Erasmus+ project that designs innovative educational material and e-toolkits using a matrix of quality assurance criteria for critical digital literacy education.
