Overview

We have been keeping up-to-date with information on the developments around the globe that have a bearing on health and wellbeing, lives and livelihoods etc during these difficult times by various news publishers, broadcasting and webcasting channels. At the same time, fake news is now viewed as one of the greatest threats to democracy, journalism, and freedom of expression. The explosive growth in fake news and its erosion to democracy, justice, and public trust has increased the demand for fake news. Humans have been proven to be irrational and vulnerable when differentiating between truth and falsehood. Social and psychological factors play an important role in fake news gaining public trust and further facilitate the spread of fake news.

Fake news, also known as junk news, pseudo-news, alternative facts or hoax news, is a form of news consisting of deliberate disinformation or hoaxes spread via traditional news media (print and broadcast) or online social media. Digital news has brought back and increased the usage of fake news. Fake news is written and published usually with the intent to mislead in order to damage an agency, entity, or person, and/or gain financially or politically, often using sensationalist, dishonest, or outright fabricated headlines to increase readership. Similarly, clickbait stories and headlines earn advertising revenue from this activity.

Identifying misinformation is increasingly being recognized as an important task with high potential social impact. Misinformation and fake contents are injected into almost every domain of news including politics, health, science, business, etc., among which, the fakeness in the health domain poses serious adverse effects to scare or harm the society. Misinformation contains scientific claims or content from social media exaggerated with strong emotion content to attract eyeballs. In this context, it is highly essential to create fake news awareness amongst citizens, to educate them about what it is, how it is spread and how it can be spotted.This international awareness webinar also aims to introduce effective intervention strategies to combat fake news among the participants.

Expected Outcomes

At the end of this awareness programme, the participants will be able to understand

Programme Organization/Content

Media Literacy and Critical Thinking

Elements of fact checking and Verification

Making sense of the news is more important than ever

Intervention Strategies

Target Participants

Duration

Register Now Programme Schedule

University of Calicut

University of Calicut is the largest University in Kerala. Established in the year 1968, it is the second university to be set up in Kerala. The University aims to nurture excellence in education and research in its catchment areas of Northern Kerala, historically consigned to the periphery of Kerala’s academic map. The University lays its emphasis on fostering quality human resource and promoting productive research that benefit both local communities and wider humanity.The University was created through a Government plan bifurcating Kerala University. As per the plan, the four post-graduate departments of the University of Kerala operating in Calicut were annexed to the new University along with fifty four constituent colleges spread across seven northern districts. With ‘Nirmaya Karmana Sree’ as it motto, the University has been able to surmount all challenges and emerge as the largest residential cum affiliating University in Kerala. With 30 post graduate departments and 426 colleges it has become a beacon of hope and enlightenment for hundreds of thousands of young men and women in North Kerala.

Department of Computer Science

Computer-based technologies are the foundation of modern life and as a University Department we are proficient to contribute towards the advancement of the society at large. We also ensure our sincere effort to offer the best in terms of Academic programmes, Research activities and infrastructure including State-of-the-art laboratories. The Department with the bright young and dynamic faculty members attracts the best of students for its masters and doctoral programmes. We also aim at bringing in excellent opportunities for active institute-industry interaction and exchange programmes which will unquestionably help the students to excel in the present competitive professional life.

Our vision is to create a vibrant learning environment founded on value based academic principles that foster collaboration, a culture of accomplishment and strong support of ethnic and intellectual diversity wherein all involved shall contribute effectively, efficiently and responsibly