The book is the antidote to "brain rot": Melissa Fleming

• Melissa Fleming, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, delivered the keynote speech, "The Power of Publishing: Restoring the Integrity of Information," at the 34th International Publishers Congress held in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Guadalajara, Jalisco.- In an era of endless scrolling, overconsumption of low-quality content, and misinformation, it is urgent to adopt a healthier informational diet, precise journalism, ethical publications, and stories that educate and inspire, stated Melissa Fleming, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications. She made these remarks during her keynote speech, "The Power of Publishing: Restoring the Integrity of Information," at the 34th International Publishers Congress held in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and organized by the National Chamber of the Mexican Publishing Industry (CANIEM in Spanish).

The Oxford Word of the Year is "brain rot," a term that reflects one of the major crises of today’s reality. It refers to low-quality, low-value content on social media and the internet, as well as the negative impact and intellectual or mental deterioration due to excessive consumption of such content.

“What is the power of the book?” Melissa Fleming asked during her speech. Books can change the world and serve as the antidote to combat “brain rot” by offering depth, reflection, and a focus on data and facts, she explained. Libraries, she emphasized, are sanctuaries, and books are hope.

Fake news sites and deepfakes produce misinformation so convincing and personalized that even expert fact-checkers struggle to detect it in real time. This is eroding trust in institutions, science, and even facts themselves, warned the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications.

“No wonder so many people no longer know what to believe. At the UN, we have long been warning that this information ecosystem is toxic, and is causing grave harm to our world,” she added.

In this context, Melissa Fleming highlighted the United Nations Global Principles for Information Integrity, presented in June 2024 by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, as a vision of a different future: one where all actors are responsible for the integrity of the information they publish; where content creators, the publishing industry, and media provide reliable and timely content; where social media platforms elevate facts over lies; and where information is more accurate and trustworthy, enabling meaningful decisions about our lives and our future.

Books can change the world

Melissa Fleming also reflected on the power of books to educate, inspire, and nurture critical thinking. As an example, she quoted her book “A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea,” which tells the survival story of Doaa, a Syrian refugee, which cut through the noise and helped amplify the voices of refugees, restore empathy, illustrate a collective experience, and open a space for meaningful discussions about a complex humanitarian crisis.

“The printed words are still out there, generating empathy for a large and vulnerable population of refugees worldwide,” remarked the author.

Melissa Fleming called on the publishing industry and media to take responsibility for the integrity of the information they publish, strengthen fact-checking, and uphold the highest editorial standards in order to restore information ecosystems and societies themselves.

She also urged them to publish diverse voices, particularly from vulnerable groups who are at risk or misunderstood. "I urge you to prioritize books that will change the world for the better," she concluded. 

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VIDEO: Keynote Speech: The Power of Publishing: Restoring the Integrity of Information

The UN's Chief of Global Communications visited Guadalajara, Jalisco, from December 2 to 6, 2024, where she participated in the 34th International Publishers Congress and the Guadalajara International Book Fair. Learn more about Melissa Fleming's activities in the following Special Bulletin (click on the image):