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The conversation surrounding misinformation, fake news, and fact-checking is constantly evolving. As changing technology changes the way we take in information, new cultural and ethical considerations arise. Here is our weekly round-up of recent readings, podcasts, and other media that addresses the latest issues in fact-checking.
What We’re Reading:
- From The Detroit News: Michigan GOP lawmaker floats bill to register, fine 'fact checkers'
Michigan representative Matt Maddock (who has been active in attempts to challenge the outcome of the 2020 election) introduced a bill that would require fact-checkers to register with the state and to pay fines for inaccurate reporting. Maddock believes that a “social power is being abused,” and that fact-checkers relish punishing those who make false claims.
- From The Columbia Journalism Review: Social networks accused of censoring Palestinian content
Journalists and writers have noticed that their posts about the violence in Palestine have suddenly disappeared, or have been flagged for breaking terms of use. Some believe social media networks are deliberately censoring Palestinian content.
- From The Chicago Tribune: Op-ed: The dangerous mythology about the US labor shortage
This op-ed debunks the myth that the current so-called labor shortage is happening because people would rather collect unemployment and stimulus checks than work. The author, a CEO of a workforce development system, argues that this belief is an insult to the working class, rooted in class, gender and racial bias.
- From Nieman Lab: How journalists can avoid amplifying misinformation in their stories
Images in a story about misinformation can often do more damage, as someone might only glance at a photo and not read the accompanying story. The solution: placing overlays on top of images helps provide context to readers and prevent them from being used in misleading contexts.
- From NBC News: Distancing from the vaccinated: Viral anti-vaccine infertility misinfo reaches new extremes
Some believe the myth that being around those who are vaccinated can cause fertility problems. Social media makes the idea of “vaccine shedding” even more extreme.
What We’re Watching:
- From Marcus Harun: Essential Journalists: How Coronavirus Shaped TV News
In this documentary, television journalists reveal the emotional and physical toll it took to cover live stories during the coronavirus pandemic.
- From Netflix: Coded Bias
As artificial intelligence becomes more advanced, this documentary investigates bias in facial recognition technology and social media algorithms.
