Diane and Nina turn the tables! Alexa and Chris are both journalism school graduates and they try to answer questions about how journalism both fights and falls victim to disinformation.

Journalism and news have evolved over time, particularly in the context of the internet and social media. Changing business models and consumer expectations have put a strain on journalists while allowing people who make stuff up to just let the lies fly. This is part one of two conversations about the state of journalism in an age of misinformation overload.

Read Nina and Diane's textbook for free.

When you don't know anything, you're likely to think you know everything. Chris didn't know that this is called the Dunning-Kruger effect. So people who know nothing often make confident claims that are lies or at least incorrect.

So how do we make sure we know who is telling us what's true? It's all about critical thinking. The group discusses ways to verify or debunk information on your own.

Alexa and Chris dig in with media literacy experts Nina Verishagen and Diane Zerr, exploring the historical roots and modern evolution of disinformation.

Did you know that disinformation played a role in naming the Spanish Flu? That "carrots are good for your eyes" comes from British war propoganda?

In the modern age, advanced technologies, like AI and deepfakes, make distinguishing truth from falsehood increasingly difficult. Learn about the critical thinking tools and resources available to help you navigate the overwhelming amount of information you encounter daily.