ACS Michigan: Untangling Misinformation in Detroit BIPOC Communities

Communities of color have been hit hard by the pandemic. They’re at the center of a nationwide reckoning about racial injustice. And they are also particularly vulnerable to the spread of online mis- and disinformation. Join First Draft, PEN America, the ACS Michigan Chapter, and local news and government leaders in a virtual conversation about what misinformation in BIPOC communities looks like, its impact, the role of the press, and the solutions that local journalists are coming up with to combat it.

Research shows that Americans trust local news sources most. But local newsrooms have been shrinking as advertising dollars have gone to social media platforms. Meanwhile, those very newsrooms often lack diverse staff and connections to communities of color. When communities cannot find the information that they’re looking for, this creates a perfect storm for misinformation to flourish online via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, as well as via private messaging services such as WhatsApp and Messenger. While these mediums can fill some information voids without the benefit of fact-checking or context, they can also cause confusion and mistrust of local news.

Community leaders, activists, journalists—everyone is invited to this wide-ranging discussion on how we can help the public gain access to the information they need. This webinar is free and open to the public.

Featuring:

Orlando Bailey, Engagement Director, Bridge Detroit

Hon. Raquel Castañeda Lopez, Detroit City Councilwoman, District 6

Candice Fortman, Executive Director, Outlier Media

Nina Ignaczak, Founder, Planet Detroit Newsletter

Nargis Rahman, Freelance Bangladeshi-American Journalist

Moderated By: 

Serena Maria Daniels, Local News Fellow, First Draft

Nora Benavidez, Director of U.S. Free Expression Programs, PEN America

Zoom information will be sent to attendees upon registration.