HealthComm project featured in Health Disinformation in International Webinar

MediaLab’s HealthComm Project team member, Dr. Rut Gómez Sobrino, recently presented the National HealthComm Project at a webinar hosted by the Media and Learning group on 19 November entitled “Understanding and Responding to Health Disinformation.” Dr. Gómez Sobrino highlighted the various work packages of the project and discussed the challenge of designing an intervention that would result in a practical workbook to help counter disinformation, specifically targeted at high school teachers and journalists, while generating robust evidence of its effectiveness.

The event brought together leading experts from across Europe to share their experiences in implementing projects aimed at combating health misinformation, a challenge that has become increasingly urgent in today’s digital landscape. Joining Dr. Gómez Sobrino were Wim Vanobberghen, Project Lead at VRT for BENEDMO, Belgium; Luc Van Bakel, Editor-in-Chief in investigative journalism at VRT; Gabrielle Trottmann from the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM); and Kristine Stifjell, Doctoral Research Fellow at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Speakers exchanged insights from their national and international projects, sparking a lively discussion on effective strategies to improve public understanding of health issues.

Dr. Gómez Sobrino’s presentation emphasized practical approaches for evidence-based health communication and demonstrated how MediaLab’s work contributes to a broader European effort to tackle disinformation. The webinar provided a valuable platform to share research findings, ideas, and innovative solutions, underscoring the critical role of clear, accurate communication in safeguarding public health. The HealthComm Project is supported by funding from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities.