Fact Tracking: Finding Truth in an Infodemic

In today’s uncertain times, it’s increasingly difficult to know what’s true. The growth of social media, smart devices and online sources offer 24/7 connectivity and unprecedented access to a rapidly expanding sea of information. But with that access comes the threat of those who seek to deceive or trick us with misinformation. From false rumors and online hoaxes, to downright lies--what can we believe and who can we trust?

We all owe it to ourselves to have good, true and accurate information to guide our actions – whether about how we vote, how we handle our finances, or how we care for or health or the health of others for caregivers among us. To help Granite Staters better sort fact from fiction, join AARP New Hampshire and the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications for Fact Tracking: Finding Truth in an Infodemic, an engaging and informative webinar on Tuesday, September 29, 1-2:15 pm.

This free, online event will kick-off with 30-minute presentation by Dr. Jevin West, Director of the nonpartisan Center for an Informed Public at the University of Washington. The spread of misinformation is among the most pressing challenges of our time. New platforms for human interaction and information sharing have opened the door to misinformation, disinformation and other forms of networked manipulation which mislead and create divisions, and diminish trust in democratic institutions such as science and journalism. Jevin will provide us with powerful tools to cut through the most intimidating data. Drawing on a deep well of expertise in statistics and computational biology, Jevin will share some compelling examples with you.  

Following Jevin, you’ll hear from a local media reaction panel made up of Granite State journalists who will share their experiences, offer tips on how to spot misinformation, where to go for the facts behind the claims, and what you can do to better navigate today’s information overload. The panel, moderated by Neil Levesque, executive director at the nationally-known New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College, will feature Matt Mowry, Editor of Business NH Magazine, Holly Ramer, Associated Press Reporter, and others.

This event is free, but pre-registration is required. Please register here: https://aarp.cvent.com/FactTracking929