Why We Believe: Framing the disinformation crisis for journalists

Journalism and democracy have been upended by the growth of mis- and disinformation. Countering it effectively requires understanding why people are susceptible and targeted — and how they can become more resilient. Psychological research can teach journalists how to pre-bunk disinformation and convey credibility in ways that readers, viewers, and listeners can process, which is more essential than ever as Election Day 2024 nears.

Register now to join the National Press Club Journalism Institute, the American Psychological Association, and PEN America for a free program on Wednesday, April 10. Learn strategies for coverage that informs and empowers your community and discuss the ways disinformation has affected the practice of journalism. The program, which will be held on Zoom, will begin at 11:30 a.m. ET, and be followed by a Q&A session.

Participants will learn:

• How misinformation and disinformation are impacting the practice of journalism, including findings from PEN America’s “Hard News: Journalists and the Threat of Disinformation” report 
• The latest scientific research from the nation’s leading psychologists about how to infuse proven methods of prebunking and inoculation in your reporting
• What tactics make a piece of misinformation or disinformation go viral and how to inoculate the public against it, especially targeted and historically disenfranchised communities
• Tips for overcoming cognitive traps, tripwires, and our own hidden biases as journalists

Panelists include: 

• Tiffany Hsu, reporter on the technology team covering misinformation and disinformation, New York Times
• Shannon Jankowski, program director, journalism and disinformation for PEN America
• Jay Van Bavel, director of the Social Identity & Morality Lab and associate professor of psychology and neural science, New York University
• Moderator: Beth Francesco, executive director of the National Press Club Journalism Institute 

People are hungry for credible, trustworthy information, and a self-governing democracy requires an informed electorate. This program will help journalists understand how people process information, judge its credibility, and decide whether to act on it, and how journalists can use that understanding to regain trust and counter disinformation. 

This program is part of the National Press Club Journalism Institute’s four-part webinar series focused on ethics in the age of disinformation. The series, produced in part with funding from the Inasmuch Foundation, is designed to provide tools and best practices to support ethical, trustworthy journalism. 

If you have questions about this program, please email National Press Club Journalism Institute Executive Director Beth Francesco at [email protected].

About NPCJI

The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press, and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire a more representative democracy. As the nonprofit affiliate of the National Press Club, the Institute powers journalism in the public interest.

About APA

The American Psychological Association is the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States, with more than 133,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants, and students as its members.

About PEN America

PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible.