Lie Detectors is an independent, award-winning media literacy organisation based in Europe, dedicated to addressing the harmful effects of online disinformation and polarisation on democracy. Focused on empowering young people and educators, its mission is to help individuals resist disinformation and polarisation while fostering a deeper understanding of ethical journalism. The organisation’s activities include workshops for journalists, children, educators, school managers and educational decision-makers, and the provision of educational resources such as worksheets and classroom materials. These efforts aim to raise awareness about the risks and benefits of digital media and equip students and educators with the tools necessary to critically engage with information content. Through interactive training sessions led by trained journalists and media experts, participants learn essential skills for fact-checking, understanding news media, making informed decisions, and resisting peer pressure when forming their worldviews. Lie Detectors’ training approach, created by founder and Executive Director Juliane von Reppert-Bismarck, includes a high focus on trust indicators, transparency and honesty that are based on evolving research in the area of cognitive psychology. With a network of 500 professional media experts across Europe, Lie Detectors reaches more than 25,000 students and more than 800 teachers annually, impacting more than 1300 classrooms. The organisation delivers training in five languages, working with children aged 10-15, as well as teachers and teacher-trainers. As a “Supportive Partner of eTwinning,” Lie Detectors also offers online and in-person training for educators beyond Europe. Its work in education has earned several prestigious awards, including a 2018 Digital Skills Award for its work in education. Beyond education, Lie Detectors plays an active role in policy development related to education and digital rights, working to build long-term resilience against disinformation and to advocate for the inclusion of news and information literacy in educational curricula across Europe. The organisation was a member of the 2018 High-Level Expert Group on Fake News and Online Disinformation, of the 2022 Steering Committee on Structural Indicators of the Code of Practice, co-authored the EU’s Guidelines on Tackling Disinformation and Promoting Digital Literacy through Education and Training (DG EAC and DG CNCT), and it’s part of the Expert Group updating the EU’s Guidelines on Digital Literacy. Independent of any commercial or political funding, Lie Detectors remains committed to providing unbiased, high-quality educational activity. Its unique position at the intersection of journalism, education, and media literacy enables it to create lasting impact through its vast network of journalists, educators, and students, making it a key player in the fight against disinformation in Europe.
