Guest Lecture on Fake News and Media Literacy

 

The Department of Journalism of St. Francis College organised a guest lecture on “Fake News and Media Literacy” on 13th May 2026 from 10:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. at the 4th Floor Seminar Hall. The session aimed to create awareness among students about the growing influence of misinformation and the importance of responsible media consumption in the digital age.

The guest speaker for the programme was Sethulekshmi MS from The Times of India. She shared her professional experiences and provided valuable insights into the challenges faced by journalists in identifying and reporting authentic news. During the session, she explained various forms of fake news, including misinformation, disinformation, clickbait headlines, manipulated images, and misleading social media content.

The speaker highlighted how fake news spreads rapidly through online platforms and discussed its negative impact on society, public opinion, and democracy. She also stressed the importance of media literacy and critical thinking while consuming information online. Students were introduced to fact-checking techniques, verification methods, and reliable digital tools used to identify false information.

The lecture was highly interactive, with students actively participating in discussions and raising questions related to journalism ethics, responsible reporting, and the role of social media in news dissemination. The session helped students understand the importance of verifying information before sharing it. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks expressing gratitude to the speaker for her informative and engaging session.