Through its School of Communication and its involvement in international projects such as IBERIFIER, the University of Navarra has been developing a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening citizens’ skills in analysing, verifying and interpreting information. The common strategy underpinning these projects is to build learning around real-life experiences and practical issues, fostering critical thinking and encouraging more informed and constructive civic participation.
According to Ramón Salaverría, coordinator of IBERIFIER, the training activities are designed around real cases, making them more tangible, understandable and useful for citizens. Charo Sádaba, Professor of Communication at the University of Navarra and a researcher within IBERIFIER, emphasises that media literacy goes far beyond identifying false information or understanding the phenomenon of disinformation.
“Media literacy means ensuring that citizens have the capacity to consume media critically and to participate in these environments in a positive and constructive way,” the researcher explains.
This approach is reflected in the educational resources and research programmes promoted by the university, which seek to raise awareness among students and citizens of the importance of critical thinking when consuming information. The approach goes beyond the simple use of digital tools, placing emphasis on understanding news production processes and the mechanisms that influence the circulation of content across digital platforms.
The School of Communication at the University of Navarra has established itself as one of the leading institutions in the fight against disinformation and in the promotion of media literacy. At present, faculty members and researchers are involved in four research projects — IBERIFIER Plus, INMERS, InfoFacto and SPQR — which address the problem from different perspectives but share a common objective: promoting media literacy as one of the most effective tools for tackling disinformation.
