BBC Academy Live Presents BBC Verify on Tour has teamed up with the University of Sunderland to give students the ultimate toolkit to take on the world of media, fake news and viral hype.
On Friday 14 November, more than 100 young people from schools and colleges across the north-east attended the University’s David Puttnam Media Centre, St Peter’s Campus, for a day of events, both virtual and in-person, designed to improve media literacy.
The day was hosted by BBC Radio Tees presenter and Sunderland graduate, Emma Millen, while staff from the BBC and Sunderland led sessions on how to find trusted sources of information, fact checking, how to verify photos or video found online, responsible use of AI, as well as crash courses in broadcast TV and podcasting.
Joining the career panel were alumni Harry Roy (freelance journalist and host of the BBC’s Total Sport: Squad Goals), Callum Rowe (freelance journalist, radio producer and social media content producer, and presenter and producer of independent Eurovision podcast, The Euro Trip) and Grace Stewart-Piercy (Head of Speech at University of Sunderland community radio station, Spark, and founder of the show In Her Element, interviewing inspiring women from the north-east).
Many of the sessions were live streamed UK-wide directly from the University’s newly refurbished cinema, including a masterclass with the team behind the hit Netflix documentary Sunderland ‘Til I Die.
Made by production company Fulwell 73, who have an office on St Peter’s Campus, the three-part series chronicles Sunderland’s journey back to the Championship through their League One play-off final win against Wycombe Wanderers. Director Ben Riad and Series Producer David Souter talked about storytelling, connecting with your audience and the importance of trust when filming a documentary.
Data journalist at BBC Verify, Paul Brown, also delivered a masterclass via live stream, enhancing young people’s news literacy and critical thinking skills in a time when trusted news and navigating an overwhelming amount of information is more challenging than ever.
Neil Macfarlane, Senior Lecturer in Online Journalism at the University of Sunderland, said: “It is increasingly hard to tell what is real and what isn’t online, and our understanding of reality is under daily attack. People are increasingly turning to social media as their only source of news, at a time when the tech oligarchs are abandoning the pursuit of reliable information, with journalists on social media being stripped of accredited status, fact checking responsibilities being ditched, and known falsehoods being actively promoted.
“That is why it is vital that everyone in society has a keener understanding of how to find the truth, so we are delighted to host a day of events alongside BBC Academy Live with BBC Verify to help the next generation do just that.”
Lee Hall, Head of the University’s School of Media and Creative Industries, said: “Today’s event will have given thousands of young people the confidence and tools to seek out the truth and challenge those who spread fakery and misinformation.
“Thanks to the inspirational speakers, I expect many in the audience and online will now be considering a career in the media, which is such as rich and diverse industry.”
Lindsay McCoy, Executive News Editor, BBC Verify, said: “In a world where misinformation and disinformation spreads faster than ever, events like BBC Academy Live with BBC Verify are vital. Media literacy has never been more important. This event brings together everything young people need, hands-on experience, career inspiration, and the tools to navigate a world where truth and trust matter more than ever. We want students to leave today not just informed, but inspired – to see themselves in these roles, to know their voice matters, and to understand how they can make a difference in a digital world.”
The event comes after the government recently announced a major update to the national curriculum which will make media and information literacy compulsory in schools for the first time.
For more information about studying a Journalism degree at the University of Sunderland, visit: https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/study/journalism-and-pr/undergraduate-journalism/
For the Journalism / Journalism (Sports) MA, visit: https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/study/journalism-and-pr/postgraduate-journalism/