Open Day in Bilbao: Journalism in Times of Disinformation

December 15, 2025

On 9 December 2024, the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) hosted the dissemination event “Journalism in Times of Disinformation” at the Bizkaia Aretoa in Bilbao. Organised in collaboration with elDiario.es, this event created a unique space for dialogue between academia, the media, and civil society, as part of the outreach activities of the European project QYourself.

The response was overwhelming: the Baroja Hall reached full capacity, with more than 160 attendees, including university lecturers, students, social organisations, third-sector professionals, and members of the general public.

Why This Event Mattered

The main goal was twofold:
1. Share the progress of QYourself in promoting media and information literacy.
2. Raise awareness about the growing threat of disinformation in digital environments.

To achieve this, the event featured a public dialogue between María José Cantalapiedra, Professor of Journalism and Principal Investigator of QYourself, and Ignacio Escolar, Editor-in-Chief of elDiario.es. Their conversation explored pressing challenges for journalism today:

  • The spread of fake news
  • The influence of digital platforms
  • The impact of artificial intelligence on content creation and distribution
  • The urgent need to foster critical thinking through education and social communication

QYourself in Action: our new method

The session also showcased the pedagogical approach of QYourself, demonstrating how journalistic content and methodologies can be adapted for formal, non-formal, and informal education. An open discussion followed, allowing participants to:

  • Identify training needs in media literacy
  • Address doubts about verification strategies
  • Propose collaborations between universities, media organisations, and social entities

Impact Beyond the Room

The results were remarkable. In addition to the in-person impact, the discussion was broadcast on elDiario.es’s YouTube channel, reaching over 10,000 views and significantly amplifying the project’s visibility. The event strengthened cooperation between UPV/EHU, the media sector, and third-sector organisations, while raising public awareness about the risks of disinformation and the importance of media literacy skills.

In short: “Journalism in Times of Disinformation” was more than an event—it was a powerful step toward empowering citizens with the skills to navigate today’s complex digital landscape.