Module 1: Understanding and addressing health disinformation - Thursday, 13 February 2025, 11:00-13:00 CET
The first training module in the series will explore health disinformation beyond traditional vaccine debates, examining how false narratives across multiple health domains including diet, alternative medicine, and disease management. Drawing on real-world examples from disinformation research, it will highlight how health disinformation intersects with and is amplified by other types of disinformation, particularly climate change, further compounding already existing public health challenges. Led by experts in the spread and impact of disinformation, the session will also analyse disinformation tactics and manifestations to help participants understand the mechanics of how false health information spreads and gains traction. It will conclude with an interactive learning activity equipping participants with practical skills for identifying and responding to health disinformation.
The training module will then present two examples of projects aimed to investigate and respond to health disinformation in two specific areas. The first project on Fact-Checking Natural Remedies and Herbal Medicine led by the EMIF-funded NATURAL project will explore the strategies employed by Viral Check, the first Portuguese health fact-checking newspaper, in combating anti-scientific disinformation. Key points will include the importance of effective and empathetic communication, as well as the need to empower readers, turning them into ambassadors in the fight against misinformation.
The second project on the Theoretical Framework for Misinformation Neutralization is led by BROD. Drawing on interdisciplinary insights from psychology, education, political science, and communication studies, the framework integrates enactive theory and logical reasoning to explore the cognitive dynamics underlying misleading information. The first use case of the project is focused on health disinformation on social media platforms, particularly disinformation around the side effects of statins.
11:00 – 12:00 Ravi Sreenath, Ripple Research – The cross-sectoral impact of health disinformation and patterns and techniques misinfluencers use to spread misleading health narratives
12:00 – 12:30 Sara Beatriz Monteiro, Viral Check – EMIF Natural project
12:30 – 13:00 Keith Kiely, BROD, Sofia University – Theoretical Framework for Misinformation Neutralization
Meet your Trainers
Ravi Sreenath is the co-founder at Ripple Research, a Switzerland-based research advisory firm that equips impact-driven organizations with actionable insights into how people think, feel & behave on today’s most pressing global issues. He is a recognized expert on the spread & impact of misinformation, particularly in the contexts of climate change, public health & digital threats to democracy. In 2022-23, Ravi led the Infodemic Management unit at WHO-Europe. He advises governments, NGOs & UN agencies on navigating these critical challenges.
Sara Beatriz Monteiro is a journalist at Polígrafo and the Director of Viral Check, Portugal’s first health-focused fact-checking newspaper. With a background in radio an online journalism at TSF and Rádio Renascença, she has also coordinated three projects funded by the European Media and Information Fund (EMIF): FACTUAL, addressing climate change disinformation; NATURAL, focusing on natural product myths; and FEED, which targets misinformation related to food, nutrition, and eating behavior.
Dr. Keith Peter Kiely is an experienced researcher at the GATE Institute and is the Scientific Coordinator for the Bulgarian Romanian Observatory of Digital Media (BROD). He has over 9 years of experience in data analysis and research in both industry and academia. Dr. Kiely holds a MA in international studies from the University of Limerick, Ireland and a Ph.D. from Queen’s University Belfast in Politics.
Target Audience
The training series is open to all stakeholders working to tackle disinformation as well as public health policy experts interested in questions related to disinformation.
Deadline
6 February 2025, 13:00 CET.
Applications are now closed