From the Nominator

McMaster University created the Bilingual Health Misinformation Initiative, a multichannel digital communications program, to counter the growing spread of health misinformation. The initiative delivers trusted, evidence-based content from McMaster to English- and French-speaking communities seeking reliable health information online. The Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) communications team partnered with YouTube and the Faculty of Humanities Department of French to focus on timely health topics, including an emphasis on mental health. In total, 56 videos were produced by the McMaster team for digital and social media channels, and many were used in university campaigns, alumni communications, and department websites. Additionally, 14 web articles were published on a dedicated mental health hub created on the FHS website. A carefully designed production process enabled the team to deliver the initiative efficiently on an accelerated timeline. English videos were produced with FHS experts and used as the foundation for French versions. The Department of French supported translation and voiceover, ensuring linguistic accuracy and cultural nuance. The initiative reached over 148,000 viewers across digital platforms and generated over $60,000 in revenue, helping offset costs. The initiative strengthened McMaster’s reputation, expanded its global reach, and demonstrated high-impact, scalable communications that influence public understanding.

From the Judges

This entry was timely, inclusive, efficient, and highly relevant. The bilingual approach, partnership with YouTube, cross-faculty collaboration, use of AI for production efficiency, and focus on mental health and misinformation were praised. The judges especially appreciated the strong use of limited resources and the potential revenue offset.