Reading information to defend democracy

Mar 17, 2025News

We live immersed in a constant flow of news, posts, comments, and images. Never before have we had access to so much information, and yet this very abundance confronts us with a huge challenge: distinguishing what is true from what is manipulated or false. Disinformation is not just a virtual threat—it has real consequences on daily life, on trust in institutions, and on the functioning of democracy itself.

That’s why, with CheckMate, we are developing a Media Literacy course designed for adults, the citizens most exposed to the risks of fake news and, at the same time, key players in both information and education processes. The idea is simple but ambitious: to provide practical tools to help people become more critical readers and users, able to recognize falsehoods, manipulation, and distorted narratives, while also gaining a deeper understanding of how the information ecosystem works.

The course takes on the issue from different perspectives. On the one hand, it looks at everyday practices: how to verify sources, how to spot misleading content on social media, how to use new technologies more critically. On the other hand, it addresses the legal dimension—often overlooked but crucial. We explore the limits within which states and international law operate when tackling disinformation, highlighting a fundamental challenge: striking a balance between protecting citizens from fake news and safeguarding freedom of expression, one of the cornerstones of any democratic society.

What we aim to show is that Media Literacy is not just a technical skill, but a path to active citizenship. It means developing a critical eye on the world, learning to navigate between truth and lies, and understanding the role that rules and institutions play in this delicate balance.

With CheckMate, we do not offer notions, but an educational experience that strengthens awareness and fosters dialogue. Knowing how to read and question information is no longer a luxury—it’s an essential skill to defend everyone’s rights and to build a freer, fairer society.

Stay tuned to learn more about the course and upcoming initiatives!

CheckMate – Empowering Europeans towards a Media-Savvy Citizenry is a project co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme (Key Action 2 – Cooperation Partnerships in Adult Education) and aims to develop new educational and Media Literacy methods targeting adults, those most exposed to the risks of disinformation and those involved in information and educational processes.

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