LWV Event - Detecting Disinformation and "Pink Slime" Sites: How to Evaluate Online Content for Credibility and Newsworthiness

LWV Event - Detecting Disinformation and "Pink Slime" Sites: How to Evaluate Online Content for Credibility and Newsworthiness

DPL - Detecting Disinformation

Location

Virtual
See map: Google Maps
US
Tuesday, November 9, 2021 - 6:00pm
As disinformation campaigns grow more sophisticated, it can become more difficult to detect false content online. This can lead to a number of harmful outcomes including a decline in public trust in the press, polarized communities, and fractured civic dialogue.
 
Fortunately we can take a proactive approach in media literacy to counter these effects. PEN America believes it is vital to equip the public with the knowledge and skills to become more discerning news consumers, fit to defend themselves against disinformation about voting, public health, and beyond, which includes being able to recognize "pink slime" websites and other sites promoting false content.

During this session, we'll discuss the basics of media literacy including terminology, psychology, and a brief history of how disinformation campaigns disenfranchise voters and threaten public health, and then we'll dive deeper into how media literacy skills can be used to spot sites posing as real news sources, as well as foster peaceful dialogue and connections as well as civic engagement. Participants will walk away with concrete strategies for guarding against misleading content online as part of PEN America’s Media Literacy Toolkit, as well as tips on how to source credible information.

League of Women Voters Detroit and the Detroit Public Library are partnering in talks promoting voter education and tools for action. Hannah Waltz of PEN America will present.

Register here.