Page 2 - Keynotes and Invited Papers

Infodemic:
Strategies to create a solid and healthy information culture

Jesus Lau
Professor
Faculty of Pedagogy
Universidad Veracruzana
Veracruz Campus
Boca del Río, Veracruz
México
Email: jesuslau@gmail.com

Abstract

Infodemic is a term coined by the World Health Organization to name the wide spread of COVID19
misinformation. “Infodemic is a blend of "information" and "epidemic" that typically refers to a rapid
and far-reaching spread of both accurate and inaccurate information about something, such as a disease.
As facts, rumors, and fears mix and disperse, it becomes difficult to learn essential information about
an issue.” (Merriam Webster, 2021). This social phenomenon (UNESCO, 2021) and the role of media
and information skills to create a solid information culture to counteract the different types of
misinformation are the main subject of this talk.

Referencs

* Merriam Webster, 2021. https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/words-were-watching-
infodemic-meaning
* Posetti, J. and Bontcheva, K. (2021). Disinfodemic: Deciphering COVID-19 disinformation. Paris:
UNESCO
https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/disinfodemic_deciphering_covid19_disinformation.pdf

Biography
A leader and spokesperson for information literacy, currently is a Professor at Universidad Veracruzana,
and Co-Chair of UNESCO MIL Alliance on Media and Information Literacy; with: Law Degree,
Universidad Autonoma de Sinaloa, Mexico; Master´s Degree in Library Science, Denver University,
USA; and Ph.D. in Information Science, Sheffield University, England. Author of more than 200 papers
and articles and 20 monographs, including: IFLA Information Literacy Guidelines (12 languages), and
author/researcher of UNESCO MIL Global Assessment Framework, among other UNESCO
publications. Recipient of numerous awards, such as BRLA Librarian of the Year (USA), and FIL-
Guadalajara Librarian of the Year; IFLA Medal (The Netherlands); the SLA Cotton Dana award (USA);
the UNESCO Global MIL Award (France), and Faculty of Excellence in Ibero-America (Miami, FL,
USA).