Trust your news feed? Journalism in the age of misinformation at The Great Debate

At a time when conversations can feel increasingly polarised, the ability to engage thoughtfully with those who see the world differently has never been more important. 

Students’ Union UCL has teamed up with Disagreeing Well and our Impartial Chairs to bring you an evening of thoughtful conversation and lively debate. Bringing together engaging speakers and industry experts, this event will explore a topic that speaks directly to the issues students care about most.

The 2026 topic for the headline discussion is misinformation and the risk it poses to liberal democracies. More and more young people today learn about current affairs through social media; algorithmically shaped news feeds crammed full of AI content designed to maintain engagement with platforms. Trust in traditional media and journalism is declining across the Western world, coinciding with rising populist movements and growing division. 

The panel will discuss the impact misinformation is having on the world today, the role traditional media and journalism have to play in a rapidly changing society, and whether media literacy will be a survival skill of the future.

The panel will include:

Ros Atkins 
BBC News, Radio 4, BBC Verify, author of The Art of Explanation

Meera Selva 
Journalist, researcher, and CEO of non-profit Internews

Oli Dugmore 
Founder of Politics Joe, Digital Editor for New Statesmen, political commentator

Sophia Smith Galer 
Digital journalist, content creator, and author