Finding Truth in an Infodemic

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  misinformation from false rumors and online hoaxes to downright lies.

To help Granite Staters better sort fact from fiction, the AARP New Hampshire and the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications are offering a webinar, Fact Tracking: Finding Truth in an Infodemic, on Tuesday, September 29, 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.  

“We 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,” said AARP NH State Director Todd Fahey. “This webinar will help people of all ages to identify misinformation.”

This free, online event will kick-off with 30-minute presentation by Jevin West, director of the nonpartisan Center for an Informed Public at the University of Washington. West will provide share powerful tools to cut through the most intimidating data. He is also a TED Talk speaker.  

Following West, there will be a local media panel made up of Granite State journalists who will share their experiences, offer tips on how to spot misinformation, tell attendees where to go for the facts behind the claims, and what the public 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 writer, among others.

"This session will help attendees be more critical consumers of news,” said Executive Director of the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications Laura Simoes. “As a school offering classes in communications and the First Amendment, we know that learning how to navigate the vast ocean of information out there requires tools to help you access, analyze and evaluate what you see, read and hear."

Pre-registration for this event is required at:  https://aarp.cvent.com/FactTracking929