The PEM demands a public strategy from the Generalitat against disinformation

The Media Education Platform, led by the CAC, calls on the Generalitat for a permanent and funded media literacy strategy for all ages.

The Media Education Platform (PEM), led by the Catalan Audiovisual Council (CAC), demands that the Generalitat implement a public and permanent strategy to combat disinformation. According to laboratoriodeperiodismo.org, the manifesto was presented on Thursday, 22 October, in Barcelona, and proposes that this training reach from schools to the elderly.

The text warns of information manipulation, the false content circulating on social media, and the risks added by artificial intelligence. For the platform, teaching how to read information cannot depend on isolated initiatives but must become a public policy with funding, specific objectives, and evaluation mechanisms.

The manifesto is supported by recommendations from UNESCO, the European Commission, and the Council of Europe. Its proponents argue that identifying false information, cross-referencing sources, and separating facts from opinions is key to protecting democratic rights and access to reliable information.

In classrooms, the PEM calls for systematic inclusion of media literacy and encourages students to inform themselves through the press. It also demands teaching how to analyse messages, recognise manipulated content, create their own information, and use artificial intelligence responsibly.

Teacher training is another priority. The document calls for strengthening initial training and ongoing education in media and digital competencies, expanding educational materials, and facilitating the participation of universities in research and innovation on these subjects.

The platform warns that many young people use artificial intelligence systems as a source of information. These tools can provide seemingly reliable answers without guaranteeing the quality of their sources or applying the verification procedures typical of journalism.

The elderly are another focus of the proposal, as they are particularly vulnerable to the hoaxes spread through messaging apps and social media. The manifesto suggests collaborating with town halls, libraries, community centres, and social entities to provide them with verification tools.

The document also advocates for rigorous and independent journalism free from government and political interference. It adds that fact-checking should have an educational function, teaching citizens to cross-reference sources and evaluate the credibility of content. Finally, it includes awareness campaigns to promote reading the press and more critical information consumption.