Intelligence Squared Discourse Disrupters series: How to fight an infodemic
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
As the coronavirus pandemic sweeps the globe, the World Health Organization is warning of something else — an information epidemic they're calling an "infodemic."
People are inundated with data and press conferences, and exposed to dubious data, miscredited quotations and outright harmful claims.
John Donvan hosts a discussion on how to be discerning communicators and consumers during a time of crisis.
Angie Drobnic Holan is a journalist and editor-in-chief of PolitiFact. She says: “When we are in an extremely high-profile news event, people are just hungry for new information.”
Kate Starbird is a computer scientist and associate professor of Human Centered Design and Engineering at the University of Washington. Starbird says: “The misinformation becomes dangerous when it hits the influencers.”
Use the audio player above to listen to the full discussion.
Support Local News
When breaking news happens, MPR News provides the context you need. Help us meet the significant demands of these newsgathering efforts.