International project "Doubt and Debate" presented

Andrea Ceccherini: “With Doubt and Debate, we want to chip away at the certainties that polarize, the convictions that separate and radicalize, to pave the way for doubt and debate—two necessary exercises in a world that, perhaps for this very reason, seems to be increasingly on fire.” Pietro Labriola: “We can build the fastest networks in Europe, but without conscious individuals, there will be no progress. Technology is a bridge; you need to know how to walk on it.”

(Milan, October 14, 2025) In a Teatro San Babila filled with over 500 Italian high school students, Andrea Ceccherini (President, Osservatorio for independent thinking) presented the new international tech-media literacy project, Doubt and Debate, during a launch event hosted by journalist Maria Latella.

Doubt and Debate is the new international and multimedia project from the Osservatorio that empowers young people to become more informed citizens in a digital era driven by algorithms and marked by disinformation and the spread of fake news.

Through tech and media literacy, young people strengthen their critical awareness, which is essential in the age of artificial intelligence, and learn to see the world through the eyes of others, opening themselves up to different points of view to combat polarization.

Doubt and Debate is a platform that allows classes to access dynamic lessons and exclusive multimedia content, thanks to international media partnerships of the highest standing and reputation (CNN, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post; in Spain, El País, Cinco Días, ABC, La Vanguardia, SER; and in Italy, Rai, Mediaset, Corriere della Sera, la Repubblica, La Stampa, Il Sole 24 Ore, Il Giornale).

“With Doubt and Debate,” declared Andrea Ceccherini, addressing the students in the audience, “we want to chip away at the certainties that polarize, the convictions that separate and radicalize, to pave the way for doubt and debate—two necessary exercises in a world that, perhaps for this very reason, seems to be increasingly on fire. We fight against the attempt to reduce human beings to ghosts of their former selves, to the level of externally-directed zombies who have, more or less consciously, let their brains turn to mush. We fight against those who seek to foster the most favorable conditions for propaganda and manipulation to take hold. With Doubt and Debate,” Ceccherini continued, “we aim to awaken consciences and develop the critical thinking of young people, precisely in an era marked by the spread of artificial intelligence, to keep the individual at the center and technology at their service. Not the other way around. For us at Osservatorio for independent thinking, at this juncture in history when most are investing in the intelligence of machines, the time has come to once again invest in the human intelligence of people. And we will do so in grand style, with unprecedented alliances. Starting with the most important people in the world: the youth, whom we want to remind that they have a good head on their shoulders and the duty to know how to use it, because that is and always will be the one and only compass they can count on if they want to keep the course of their lives firmly in hand and remain at the helm of their journey. Whoever believes in this challenge,” concluded the President of the Osservatorio for independent thinking, Andrea Ceccherini, “should follow us and stand by us to write a new chapter together, where doubt and debate will be the cornerstones around which we help young people savor the pleasure and curiosity of discovering who they are, of knowing themselves and the opinions they hold.”

Joining Andrea Ceccherini on stage was Pietro Labriola, CEO of TIM, the project's main sponsor, who explained why TIM chose to support this initiative in Italy. TIM will contribute to the project by launching a powerful social media campaign to encourage young people to get involved and "show their face" by sharing what it means for them to take control of the digital world and be the protagonists of their own choices: #RompiLaBolla (#BreakTheBubble) #ViviFuoriDalDisplay (#LiveOutsideTheScreen). "Today, the window to the world is through a feed where everything ends up looking like us, but the good news is that 80% of young people are asking to understand how algorithms work. This isn't mistrust of technology; it's the desire to govern it," stated Pietro Labriola. "This is where our project begins. With the courage of these young people and our strength, together we will break the bubble. Not to get out of the digital world, but to truly enter it—with intelligence, critical thinking, and freedom."

During the event, there were also live video contributions from Joe Kahn (Executive Editor, The New York Times), Mark Thompson (CEO, CNN), and Robert Thomson (Chief Executive, News Corp), representatives of the most authoritative global news brands participating in the project. They dialogued with students about the content of the Osservatorio's new tech-media literacy initiative and explained why their media groups chose to stand alongside the Osservatorio in developing this important project.

A series of pre-recorded messages were also broadcast with endorsements from the editors and representatives of the national and international media partners of the Doubt and Debate initiative, such as: Mauro Crippa (General Director of Information, Mediaset), Luciano Fontana (Editor-in-Chief, Corriere della Sera), Joe Kahn (Executive Editor, The New York Times), Andrea Malaguti (Editor-in-Chief, La Stampa), Matt Murray (Executive Editor, The Washington Post), Mario Orfeo (Editor-in-Chief, la Repubblica), Giampaolo Rossi (CEO, RAI), Alessandro Sallusti (Editor-in-Chief, Il Giornale), Fabio Tamburini (Editor-in-Chief, Il Sole 24 Ore), Mark Thompson (CEO, CNN), and Emma Tucker (Editor-in-Chief, The Wall Street Journal).