Srinagar, Feb 28: To promote fact-checking skills and combat misinformation, the Media Education Research Centre (MERC), University of Kashmir (KU), in collaboration with Logically Facts, an international fact-checking enterprise, organised a two-day training workshop on тАШCritical Information LiteracyтАЩ at the varsity.
A statement of KU issued here said that the workshop focused on equipping participants with techniques to identify misinformation, understand biases, and develop a critical approach to digital content.
It featured engaging discussions and practical training and exercises by experts, allowing students and scholars to refine their critical thinking skills in the digital age.
Faculty at MERC and workshop coordinator, Prof Syeda Afshana stressed the importance of questioning narratives and verifying facts before accepting them as truth.
тАЬMisinformation is not just a media issue, it affects society as a whole by distorting reality and undermining trust in institutions,тАЭ she said.
Head of Editorial Operations (India), Logically Facts, Kritika Goel explained various biases and discussed the financial motives behind spreading misinformation.
She also elaborated on the role of social media algorithms in amplifying false narratives.
Deputy Editor at Logically Facts, Shreyashy Roy led an interactive session where participants analysed statements to identify misinformation and confirmation bias.
Earlier, MERC Head, Prof Sabeha Mufti, in her welcome address, highlighted the increasing challenge of misinformation and the need for fact-checking in todayтАЩs digital landscape.
Afsana Rashid, faculty at MERC KU and co-coordinator of the workshop delivered a formal vote of thanks, Rashid Maqbool conducted the proceedings of the event, and Nayeem Showkat undertook the functional logistics.
