University to Host Panel Discussion on Combating Disinformation

Mediterranean disinformation experts to gather at University of Malta for public forum

Experts battling disinformation across the Mediterranean region will converge at the University of Malta on October 30 for a public event highlighting their ongoing work and challenges in combating false information.

The 90-minute forum, scheduled from 10:00 to 11:30 AM at the Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences on the university’s Msida campus, will feature representatives from the Mediterranean Digital Media Observatory (MedDMO), who will engage with attendees on pressing issues related to media integrity, journalistic practice, and strategies for countering disinformation.

Launched in 2023, MedDMO represents a collaborative effort between journalists, researchers, and media literacy specialists from Malta, Greece, and Cyprus, with participation from the international news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP). The initiative functions as one of 14 specialized regional hubs operating under the umbrella of the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO), a broader EU-backed network targeting disinformation across the continent.

The Mediterranean hub has established a multifaceted approach to improving information quality throughout the region. Its activities span fact-checking operations, detailed analysis of disinformation trends, targeted media literacy campaigns, and specialized training programs designed to build resilience against false information.

In a significant vote of confidence for the project’s effectiveness, the European Commission recently renewed MedDMO’s mandate, securing its operations for at least three additional years. This extension reflects the growing recognition of coordinated fact-checking networks as essential infrastructure in Europe’s defense against information manipulation.

Within Malta, the project is anchored by two key local partners: Times of Malta, the country’s leading news organization, and the University of Malta’s Department of Media and Communications, which brings academic expertise to the initiative’s work.

The upcoming event will feature presentations from international members of the MedDMO consortium, offering insights into their methodologies and findings from their first year of operation. Following these presentations, a panel discussion will bring together editors from Times of Malta and AFP, alongside a representative from the Malta Communications Authority, the country’s telecommunications regulator.

This public forum comes at a critical juncture for Mediterranean media landscapes, which face unique regional challenges including political polarization, cross-border information flows, and linguistic complexities that can facilitate the spread of misinformation. The Mediterranean region’s position at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East also makes it particularly vulnerable to geopolitical disinformation campaigns.

Media literacy initiatives like MedDMO have gained increased importance across Europe following a series of high-profile disinformation campaigns targeting democratic processes, public health measures, and migration issues. The European Commission has progressively expanded funding for such programs as part of its broader Digital Services Act framework, which aims to create a safer digital space where fundamental rights of users are protected.

For media organizations like Times of Malta, participation in such cross-border initiatives represents an evolution in their traditional journalistic mission, extending fact-checking beyond individual stories to addressing systematic patterns of false information.

The event is open to the public free of charge, though advance registration is required through an online form provided by the organizers. University students, media professionals, and civic society representatives are particularly encouraged to attend.

Full details about the program, speakers, and registration process can be found on the registration form available through the University of Malta’s website.