Abstract:

As we live in the communication society, in which we are all connected in a network, immersed in a space without borders in which everyone communicates with everyone on a global scale, it is essential, in schools around the world, to adopt a strategy against disinformation and “Fake news” based on a serious and determined bet on teaching media education.

Fact checking, disinformation and fake news are increasingly important issues in our information society. An underlying question is what is the real academic and educational background that we have in our European panorama to deal with these issues? Are we able, while researchers and teachers, to deal with the current situation? Can students deal with the “war” information situation?

This paper reflects part of the research work of a European team, from different universities of different countries. In this paper we will focus on the Portuguese reality: what terms are usually used to address the topic; what relationship exists in the teaching of fact checking and the reality in higher education? Is there specific training at national level for society to reflect the theme of fact checking? Which constraints are we facing?

Keywords:

Fact checking, disinformation, higher education, training.