AI-Generated Misinformation, Fact-Checking Trends, and Political Education for Students
Sponsored by Sage
Recorded on 10/28/2024
Posted in The Authority File
Episode 404
In the final episode of this four-part series, our guests look at contemporary issues facing our information environment, media, and news cycles. First, Dan Chibnall, STEM Librarian & Associate Professor of Librarianship at Drake University, and Nick Anstead, Associate Professor in the Department of Media and Communications at the London School of Economics, reflect on the threat of AI-generated misinformation in the form of written text and, more recently, images and video. Next, Nick and Dan dig into contemporary trends of real-time analysis and fact-checking. Noting that fact-checking doesn’t always reach the audience receiving the false information, they also point out that these efforts can inadvertently share misinformation more widely, adding attention to outlandish or harmful views. Last, our guests discuss guidance for librarians on how to support students’ navigation through mis/disinformation—namely, slow down, be cautious of social media, and focus on issues with a local impact.
About the guests:
Nick Anstead
Associate Professor, Department of Media and Communication
London School of Economics
Nick Anstead is an Associate Professor in the Department of Media and Communication at the London School of Economics, where his research focuses on elections, comparative politics and political communication. He is the author of the book What Do We Know and What Should We Do About Fake News (2021) and has had work published in leading journals including Political Studies, The International Journal of Press/Politics, and the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. Nick is a regular commentator on elections and politics in the media. He tweets @nickanstead and is on Bluesky @nickanstead.bsky.social.
Dan Chibnall
STEM Librarian & Associate Professor of Librarianship
Drake University
Dan Chibnall is the STEM Librarian & Associate Professor of Librarianship at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa in the United States. Dan teaches classes in science research, science communication, science fiction, the relationship between science & democracy, and misinformation in the 21st century. He has also co-authored articles on helping K-12 students to understand scientific concepts through active learning techniques. Dan is active in supporting Iowa libraries, having served as the President of both the Iowa Library Association as well as the Iowa chapter of the Association of College & Research Libraries. He posts on Bluesky as @bookowl.bsky.social.
Enjoy the episode? Listen to the rest of the series:
- Definitions, Uses, and Current Contexts for “Fake News”
- Navigating the Changing Information Landscape
- Instruction, Regulation, and Solutions for Today’s Information and Political Environment
Check out our previous series with Sage:
– Librarian Skills Landscape Report and Overview
– The Intersection of Critical Thinking Skills and AI
– Building Skills for Student Success
– Understanding the Undergraduate Workflow
– Spotlighting Academic Library Innovation
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