Listen to the article
In a pioneering effort to combat electoral misinformation, a youth-led initiative called “Future Proof” launched yesterday across Scotland. The broadcast project aims to help voters navigate the complex information landscape during the upcoming Scottish Elections through fact-checking and investigative journalism.
The Scottish Youth Film Foundation (SYFF) is spearheading the initiative, which has recruited six young journalists from diverse regions of Scotland. These emerging reporters will focus specifically on identifying and analyzing misinformation, disinformation, and AI-generated content throughout the election campaign period.
Rory Kirkpatrick, one of the six journalists selected for the program, hails from Portobello. “As misinformation seems to get more and more prevalent, bringing attention to the truth only becomes more important,” Kirkpatrick said. “I believe we all must adapt to the ways that the spread of misinformation is changing in the age of social media.”
Joining Kirkpatrick are five other young journalists representing a geographic cross-section of Scotland: Emilie from Fort William, Robert from Kiltarlity, Rachel and Santi from Glasgow, and Tom from Kirkcaldy. This regional diversity ensures that the perspectives and concerns of young people across the country will be represented in their reporting.
Beginning April 8, the team will broadcast four weekly live shows on YouTube, airing every Tuesday at 6 p.m. until April 29. Each program will investigate misleading claims circulating during the campaign while highlighting issues particularly relevant to young voters.
The initiative extends beyond traditional broadcasting with companion interactive webinars following each show. These sessions will allow young people to directly engage with the journalists and expert guests on election topics, creating a two-way conversation about democratic participation. The webinars are designed to support both young and first-time voters as well as provide educational material for teachers and students.
David Barras, co-founder of the Scottish Youth Film Foundation, emphasized the project’s importance: “Future Proof puts young people at the heart of one of the most important conversations in modern democracy – how we recognize truth in an age of misinformation. By giving young journalists the tools to investigate claims and question narratives, we’re helping ensure that the next generation of voters is informed, confident and ready to engage.”
The project emerged from discussions at the Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics in summer 2025, where concerns about media literacy and disinformation were highlighted as crucial to maintaining democratic integrity.
Supporting the webinar component are Scotland’s Development Education Centres, working under the umbrella of Scotland’s International Development Alliance (SIDA). Huw Owen, a former BBC Scotland News Editor and Co-Chair of SIDA’s Education Committee, is serving as an advisor to the project.
Owen pointed to the increasing threats posed by digital misinformation: “The impact of malicious and careless communication via digital and social media is now having a profound effect on all our lives. Supercharged by AI fakes, it is fuelling polarization and fear within and between many of our communities here in Scotland and beyond.”
Several prominent organizations have joined as partners to strengthen the initiative. Global fact-checking organization Full Fact will provide training to the young journalists, bringing their expertise in combating misinformation to the project.
Mark Frankel from Full Fact highlighted the timeliness of the initiative: “These elections are taking place against a backdrop of an unprecedented distortion of facts. The public feels ill-equipped to deal with the manipulation of information they see before them and the threat of AI as they see it.”
Other partners include Young Scot and the Scottish Youth Parliament, whose research on young people’s political engagement has informed the project. The John Smith Centre will contribute guest speakers and provide access to a youth hustings event at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh on April 26.
As Scotland approaches what promises to be a contentious election, Future Proof represents a creative approach to strengthening democratic participation among younger citizens while addressing the growing challenge of misinformation. By combining journalism, fact-checking, and interactive engagement, the project aims to create more informed voters and restore trust in democratic processes.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
6 Comments
This is an inspiring initiative. Young people taking the lead on such an important issue gives me hope. I’m curious to see the impact they can make in the upcoming election.
This is an important effort to uphold the integrity of the democratic process. Fact-based reporting has never been more crucial. I’m optimistic these young journalists can make a real impact in their communities.
Fact-checking and investigative journalism are vital tools to ensure voters have accurate information. I’m glad to see diverse young reporters from across Scotland involved in this project. Curious how they’ll verify sources and surface the truth.
Combating misinformation is crucial for a healthy democracy. I applaud these young journalists for stepping up. Their investigative work will be a public service.
This is a great initiative to combat misinformation during elections. Young journalists bringing attention to the facts is crucial in the age of social media. I’m curious to learn more about the specific tactics they’ll use to identify and analyze misleading content.
Misinformation is a growing challenge, especially around elections. I appreciate these young journalists taking it on directly. Curious if they’ll be looking at AI-generated content in particular, as that can be hard for voters to spot.