Disinformation, Information Integrity and Literacies
We research disinformation, information integrity, and information literacies, exploring how people find, evaluate and engage with information, and how states, institutions and communities shape those experiences.
About our work
The Disinformation, Information Integrity and Literacies (DIIL) Research Cluster brings together scholars from information science, journalism, communication and law to address some of the most pressing challenges in our information landscape. Our research spans three interconnected strands.
We investigate disinformation and information integrity, examining state-sponsored disinformation and strategic narratives, political communication and audience engagement, AI and LLMs as vectors of disinformation, the spread and retraction of misinformation in scientific discourse, and the governance and ethics of information systems.
We research information literacies in diverse contexts, including higher education, community settings, health, and everyday life, exploring how people find, evaluate, create and use information. This includes digital literacies (for example, information and media literacies), and the development of resilience against mis- and disinformation.
Across both strands, we embrace methodological diversity, combining qualitative, participatory, legal and computational approaches. Our work engages communities in the UK, Europe, and beyond, and we maintain active relationships with policymakers, media organisations, the public and civil society organisations. The cluster plays a central role in the School's research community, supporting postgraduate researchers and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
Our activities
- Research seminars featuring work-in-progress presentations and guest speakers.
- Methods training sessions delivered by cluster members.
- Grant writing activities to develop cross-cluster funding bids and foster new interdisciplinary partnerships.
- Career development support for postgraduate researchers and early career researchers.
Get involved with our work
The Disinformation, Information Integrity and Literacies cluster is co-led by Dr Dani Madrid-Morales (d.madrid-morales@sheffield.ac.uk) and Dr Ilya Yablokov (i.yablokov@sheffield.ac.uk). If you are a member of the School of Information, Journalism and Communication and wish to join the cluster, or you work in a related field and wish to collaborate, please get in touch.
Other cluster members include:
Dimas Anindityo
Leigh Broxton
Sam Forbes-Fairfax