Bristol Community College to host event series promoting critical-thinking skills by dissecting how misinformation and disinformation influence our world
The Department of Homeland Security states “in today’s information environment, the way consumers view facts, define truth and categorize various types of information does not adhere to traditional rules.” Disinformation impacts all of us, at every level of society. Bristol Community College’s response is a second installment of the year-long, multi-disciplinary colloquium “A More Perfect Union: Diffusing disinformation and promoting critical thought,” aimed at promoting critical-thinking skills by dissecting how misinformation and disinformation influence the world around us. The series is free and open to the public.
The series kicks off with the event “Misinformation and the threat to our democracy: Why you can't tune out,” on September 22, 2021, from 2 to 3:15 p.m., in room H209, in the Jackson Arts Center (H building), on the Bristol Fall River Campus, presented by WCVB-TV Investigative Reporter and Northeastern University Journalism Professor Mike Beaudet.
Event Description: These are unprecedented times. Our country is arguably more divided now than ever. Trust in the media has dropped to historically low levels, while misinformation runs rampant, especially on social media platforms. Let's be honest. Consuming news and information in 2021 can be exhausting. Sometimes it seems like it might be easier to just tune it all out. But during these challenging times, it’s critically important to stay informed and engaged. In fact, the fate of our democracy depends on it.
Join WCVB-TV Investigative Reporter and Northeastern University Journalism Professor Mike Beaudet as he discusses how misinformation is threatening our democracy and the steps we can all take to become better-informed citizens. This event is sponsored by Bristol Community College’s Holocaust and Genocide Center.
Future events and topics in the series include “Tracking extremism: The FBI and tracking the Capital rioters,” “Dangerous ideas: Misinformation and stereotypes in history,” “Do your research: Misinformation, propaganda and self-radicalization online,” “Science communication to make science more equitable and inclusive,” “Uncomfortable conversations: A collaboration with Multicultural Affairs,” and “The hidden pandemic: Fact-checking in the era of pseudoscience and misinformation.”
As Bristol continues to lead with safety, all students, faculty, staff and guests must follow the Bristol Together plan’s ongoing health and safety protocols, including wearing a mask while indoors in common areas at all college locations and public events. For more information, please visit www.bristolcc.edu/together.
For more information about upcoming events, taking place October 2021 through April 2022, in the “A More Perfect Union: Diffusing disinformation and promoting critical thought” series, please visit www.BristolCC.edu/AgainstHate, or contact colloquium coordinator Emily Z. Brown by emailing emily.brown@bristolcc.edu, or by calling 774.357.3040.