BBC Verify’s on Tour ‘Filter the Fakes’ workshop has been helping students and staff at Forth Valley College to distinguish between fake news and real images online.
Run by former BBC broadcast journalist, turned trainer Ian Moss - and coordinated by Forth Valley Student Association’s Student Engagement Officer Kasia Słapek, Creative, Digital and Leisure Industries Department Operations Manager Karyn King and Care, Sport, Business and Communities Curriculum Manager Lucy Hawkins - the hour long workshop attracted more than two hundred students and 20 FVC staff across all three campuses, over a period of two days from Thursday 29 until Friday 30 October.
Ian’s engaging workshop helped those attending to tell the difference between AI generated still photos and film clips on the internet and on social media, which may be shared deliberately (disinformation/fake news/propaganda) or unintentionally in good faith (misinformation).
Ian, said: “This is one of the first workshops of this kind that we have done in-person and I was delighted to bring it to the fantastic students at FVC. We got a really good mix of people coming along which made for an impressive range of questions and observations. It was very heartening to see how tuned it to some of the challenges the students already are and I’m confident that the skills they’ve learned will be a great help in navigating the media landscape. There are definitely some potential BBC journalists developing across the three FVC sites.”
Kasia Slapek, Forth Valley Student Association’s Student Engagement Officer, said: “We were delighted to host the BBC Verify Filter the Fakes workshop at Forth Valley College. The strong engagement from both students and staff highlighted how valuable these skills are in today's digital world. As misinformation continues to evolve, opportunities like this help build the critical thinking needed to navigate information with confidence."
Lucy Hawkins, said: “We had a fantastic couple of days and some really engaging participation from the staff and students involved. Ian was a great communicator and was able to really bring to life some of the ways the BBC verifies its information and students were really able to think about the images they come across, in a fun and informative way.”
Karyn King, Creative, Digital and Leisure Industries Department Operations Manager said: “We were delighted to host this pilot for BBC Verify with Ian Moss presenting the workshops over a jam-packed two-day schedule which covered all three campuses – most of the journey’s done on Ian’s bike might I add! The students and staff were so engaged with this topic, and it was fantastic to see a wide range of students benefit including school pupils, supported students, apprentices and full-timers. Hopefully this will be the start of more initiatives to spread the word about this important area of work.”
BBC Academy Live presents BBC Verify on Tour is a nationwide outreach initiative - delivered both in-person and virtually - for schools, colleges, and sixth forms. These events are designed to help young people develop essential skills and knowledge to navigate the world of digital media.
The Academy, in collaboration with universities and the BBC Verify team, ensure each event features in-person expert-led interactive workshops, and online engaging discussions with journalists, fact-checkers, and digital content creators.
Participants gain a behind-the-scenes look at how BBC Verify’s specialist team investigates and verifies stories. This helps young people identify misinformation, understand bias, and evaluate trustworthy sources. It’s not just about decoding headlines - it’s about building the confidence to question, challenge, and think critically.
A key focus of the events is to highlight the wide range of roles within the media industry and the pathways available for those interested in a media career. Attendees can expect inspiring career talks and exclusive conversations with professionals who have made their mark in journalism, storytelling, and digital content creation.
Whether young people are curious about content creation or considering a future in news, these events offer a wealth of inspiration, practical insights and opportunities to explore the ever-changing media landscape.
Aims of the project
For young people to be inspired to think critically, challenge creatively, and shape the future of the media industry.
What young people will learn
• How to spot fake news and understand media bias
• Ways to evaluate trustworthy sources
• The importance of critical thinking in the digital age
To find out more visit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/live/verify/
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