Simulated Journalism Environments (J-SIMs) as a Conceptual Space to Examine Scientific Disinformation.

This report examines the use of journalism simulations (J-SIMs) to prepare students for addressing scientific disinformation, particularly in health crisis reporting. Drawing on the experiences of 114 Canadian graduate students participating in six J-SIMs between 2018 and 2023, the study identifies five key meta-themes in student responses to disinformation: health literacy, debunking, inoculations (training effects), future accuracy, and system-level considerations. The simulations, centered on an infectious disease outbreak scenario, provided a dynamic, low-stakes environment for students to practice verification, critical thinking, and crisis reporting skills while confronting misinformation and disinformation in real time. The findings suggest that J-SIMs offer valuable pedagogical opportunities to enhance science journalism education by fostering practical skills and conceptual understanding necessary to combat disinformation in evolving media landscapes.