Fake news expert found to have fake doctorate

To quote from a report out of Ireland:

A leading Irish academic and former Fulbright scholar who is an expert on disinformation and ‘fake news’ has been falsely claiming to have a doctorate from a distinguished English university, Prime Time has established.

Tom Felle, an associate professor at University of Galway’s Department of Journalism and Media who was head of the department until last year, has been described as “Dr Tom Felle” on the university’s website, including in prospectuses designed to attract students to study at the college.

Mr Felle claims to have a doctorate in journalism from City, University of London (now City St George’s), where he used to work as a senior lecturer. The university’s department of journalism is widely regarded as the most prestigious of its type in Britain.

A former senior academic at City St George’s told Prime Time that “Tom registered for a PhD by prior publication with a City supervisor. However, the degree was not completed and he left the university a couple of years afterwards and did not pursue the PhD. He was therefore never awarded the degree.”

Mr Felle, a former journalist, has appeared on television and radio and in print as an expert on media issues, especially disinformation and online abuse of female politicians. In 2024, he was appointed as an expert assessor for the media regulator Coimisiún na Meán.