By Madeline Fuerstenberg, Community Reporter
A free two-part “Information Self-Defense” program – aimed to help people understand the differences between “fake news” and reliable information presented in political campaigns and by the news media – is scheduled for successive Tuesday evenings at the L.E. Philips Memorial Public Library, 400 Eau Claire St.
“Understanding Disinformation and Fake News” will be the topic presented from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday (Feb. 4) in the Eau Claire Room on the library’s lower level. This seminar will address the historic and contemporary spread of false information. (NOTE: this corrects an error in the original posting of this story in regard to the starting time.)
On Feb. 11 – at the same time and in the same location – “Tackling the Problem of Discrimination” will be discussed. “Discrimination” here refers to “the ability to discern what is of high quality” or to distinguish between questionable information and reliable sources.
Hinnant to lead discussions
Kate Hinnant, head of instruction and communication at UW-Eau Claire’s McIntyre Library, will lead both sessions. Hinnant, an associate professor, also teaches in the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies program.
“For the past 25 years, I have been teaching college students how to evaluate information,” Hinnant said in an email. “I started as a writing instructor, teaching research essays, and then became a librarian when I realized that helping students become more critical researchers was what I really enjoyed.
“Disinformation fascinates me as an information problem, because it brings up questions about technology, democracy, censorship and authority.”
Hinnant said she started studying “fake news” and disinformation in 2016, when people first began to wonder what could be done to “stem the tide.” She has been developing a course at the university to study disinformation, and she said this program at the library is a distilled version of that course.
‘Around forever’
According to Hinnant, disinformation has been around forever, and it is important for people to recognize this.
“The internet has changed how quickly and how far disinformation can be spread,” Hinnant said. “Some also argue that we are living in a Post-Truth era, when there is a suspicion of expertise and traditionally authoritative sources. I think helping people recognize disinformation as a part of our information landscape will help people feel less duped.”
The program’s first session, Hinnant said, will address the ways people react to, and remember, disinformation. This session will examine the real-world effects that “fake news” might have on society.
In the second session, Hinnant will discuss the many solutions proposed around the world for combating disinformation. She will also teach attendees some techniques they can personally adopt to fact-check like professionals, she said.
Hinnant said she hopes that people will leave her presentation understanding the range of disinformation out there, “but also that the purpose of disinformation is often to sow the seeds of discontent or exacerbate tensions already present in our society.”
Questions about this program can be directed via telephone at 715-839-5004 or by email to librarian@eauclaire.lib.wi.us.
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