The halls of the Houses of Parliament buzzed with youthful energy on Tuesday, June 10th, 2025, as Shout Out UK, in collaboration with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Political and Media Literacy, hosted ‘Have I Got Fake News for You: A Political and Media Literacy Quiz.’ The event staged a nail-biting face-off between a team of savvy Year 12 students from Caterham High School and a formidable panel of adult experts, with the next generation ultimately clinching a decisive victory of ten points to five.
Held in the Thames Pavilion, with its sweeping views of the River Thames, the ‘Have I Got Fake News For You’ highlighted the APPG’s commitment to empowering young people with the critical skills needed to navigate today’s complex information landscape. Hosted by award-winning journalist and author Sophia Smith Galer, the quiz pitted ‘Team Grown-Ups’ — featuring Stephen Bush of the Financial Times, Kirsty Blackman MP (Co-chair of the APPG), Cathy Newman of Channel 4 News, and Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (the youngest peer in parliament), against ‘Team Gen Z’ — comprised of bright students Muhammed Paderwala, Mya Law, Abbas Mehmood, and Jannat Khan from Caterham High School, Ilford.
Sophia Smith Galer expertly navigated the quiz, challenging both teams on their knowledge of UK politics, democratic rights, and their ability to discern online misinformation, disinformation, and even malinformation. Questions ranged from historical milestones like the Magna Carta to contemporary digital trends and the nuances of misleading content online. There were plenty of laughs from the audience along the way as Team Grown-Ups’ speed on the buzzer did not always match the accuracy of their answers.
In an impressive display of their political and media literacy, Gen Z proved to be more than a match for their experienced opponents. Their knowledge of British politics and their keen understanding of the digital world, (even the perplexing term ‘no cap’) led them to a well-deserved 10-5 victory. Excitingly, the team’s MP, Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, joined the event to congratulate the students and join a discussion with them on young people’s priorities for lawmakers.
The students certainly did Caterham High School proud, confirming that the next generation is more than equipped to understand how our democracy works and to critically assess online information.
The event also celebrated young talent beyond the quiz. Kian Noorani and Caitlin Danaher, runners-up in the FT/PSA Student Blog competition, joined to read their insightful blogs on the topic of ‘Can social media save democracy,’ further highlighting the articulate and engaged voices of the next generation.
Attendees to the event ranged from MPs, peers and government officials to valued Shout Out UK partners, including Commonsense Media, Full Fact, Votes for Schools and award-winning author, Jenny Anderson. It was clear that all who were there enjoyed the event hugely, but something bigger was also at stake: the value of understanding the systems — political and media — that shape our lives, and how to navigate a world where information is everywhere, but not always reliable.
As Sophia Smith Galer remarked, though the Caterham students took home the trophy on the day, ‘Political and Media Literacy was the real winner’ in an age where critical thinking skills are vital. And the grown-ups now know the reference of Musical.ly!
Matteo Bergamini, CEO of Shout Out UK, expressed his gratitude to Kirsty Blackman MP and the APPG on Political and Media Literacy for their partnership in hosting such a vital and engaging event, stating:
‘The work of Shout Out UK and the APPG is to ensure that, in the digital age, every child is as well equipped to participate in their democracy as the team from Caterham High School evidently is.’
Shout Out UK continues its essential work in delivering political and media literacy education for young people across the UK. Our quiz stands as a great example of the power of an informed and engaged youth, demonstrating that when it comes to navigating the complexities of modern information, the future is indeed in capable hands.
