By Massarah Mikati

For years now, we’ve been dealing with a rapid spread of mis- and disinformation, particularly around elections. And while news media has traditionally been the solution to counter false information, it has also been experiencing a decline in trust from the public — making the effectiveness and reach of our work more challenging than ever.

We spoke with Tim Richardson and Mina Haq of PEN America’s Journalism and Disinformation program, as well as Max Read from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, to discuss how newsrooms can gain trust from the public while battling misinformation. This webinar covered so much, from how to detect AI-generated deepfakes, to specific strategies on countering misinformation within marginalized communities. 

Here are the top takeaways from the conversation. Be sure to check out the video below for the full discussion!

• Recent advancements in AI technology allow “bad actors” to micro-target small segments of the population.
• Conversation on social media isn’t representative of what the public cares about or is paying attention to.
• Disinformation tactics include appeals to emotion, confirmation bias, repeated exposure to claims and use of “in-group” language.
• Pre-bunking, working with trusted leaders, transparency and non-English content can help to inoculate against disinformation.

🔗 Bookmark these links:

• Facts Forward: A journalist’s guide to combating disinformation
• Primer for news consumers on spotting disinformation when news breaks
• Guide To Combating Campus Protest Mis/Disinformation
• Online harassment field manual
• A Journalist’s Guide to Navigating Disinformation When Covering Breaking News