Transforming Media Education to Counter Disinformation: Fact-Checking, StratCom, AI

Introduction. Disinformation is a major threat to democracy, exacerbated by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Artificial Intelligence (AI) amplifies the spread of propaganda. Media education, by fostering critical thinking, is key to countering hybrid threats and requires an innovative approach in the digital age. Research Objective. The study aims to identify key strategies and approaches for countering disinformation within university media education. Methodology. The study employs analysis, synthesis, and content analysis methods, enabling the identification of key transformations in media education and the examination of European university curricula integrating media, digital, and AI literacy, as well as strategic communications. Results. The role of media literacy as a multidimensional competency was explored, encompassing access, analysis, evaluation, and content creation, as well as the development of critical thinking in digital environments. Practices integrating fact-checking, strategic communications, and digital literacy into educational processes were analyzed. Key trends include combining media education with practice, interdisciplinarity, digitalization of learning, and the introduction of AI literacy to address contemporary challenges. Conclusions. The study underscores the critical role of integrating media literacy into education as a factor in building resilience against informational threats. The rise of AI necessitates supplementing traditional media education with digital and AI literacy. Major trends include the integration of media education with practice, interdisciplinarity, and digitalization. Beyond fact-checking, strategic communications and counter-narratives are increasingly vital in combating disinformation. Particular emphasis is placed on AI literacy, which includes understanding AI principles, ethics, and societal impacts to prepare for digital challenges.