David Mikkelson, co-founder of Snopes.com, a leading U.S.-based resource for debunking rumors and bad information, discussed media literacy, rumor research and the importance of trustworthy sources with a wide variety of audiences in Switzerland. Addressing university students in Bern, high school students in Wettingen, an audience at the Museum of Electronic Arts in Basel, Swiss federal government officials, Swiss press and those working in social media and communications in six separate events, Mikkelson noted that “fake news” was not a new phenomenon and stressed the importance of readers approaching media critically, checking sources and reading beyond sensational headlines.
