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FYI Podcast: Misinformation, Disinformation, and More

by on March 22, 2021

This episode is about misinformation, disinformation, and mal-information. Whether it is lies about the election, or COVID-19, or conspiracy theories, we have seen just how insidious the spread of misinformation can be. Our guest is Suzanne LaPierre, the Virginiana Librarian at Fairfax County Public Library in Virginia. Suzanne has researched and written on these topics. She is also a regular contributor here at PL Online.

Resources for this Episode:

Websites to help assess media bias:

  • AllSides.com
    AllSides displays left, right and center coverage of top news stories side-by-side for perspective. They also provide media bias ratings for over 800 news outlets and writers, utilizing transparent scientific methods. Viewers can join in civic dialog about the issues via AllSides Connect.
  • Media Bias/Fact Check
    Media Bias/Fact Check features a database of over 3600 media sources. Use the search bar to quickly check the bias level of a source. Also includes a pseudoscience dictionary.

Recommended Books:

Fake News, Propaganda, and Plain Old Lies: How to Find Trustworthy Information in the Digital Age, by Donald A. Barclay

Bad News: Why We Fall for Fake News and Alternative Facts, by Rob Brotherton

Post-Truth (The MIT Press Essential Knowledge), by Lee McIntyre 

The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters, by Tom Nichols


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