Vaccine ‘space race’

The media reported today that French-speaking ‘influencers’ on social networks have been approached by a dubious PR agency to promote negative messages about the Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine (I saw it on Twitter and then it was reported here). In this episode, Eva and I talk to experts who have been collecting data about how false claims about vaccines link to …

Is that post you saw misinformation or disinformation?

Both disinformation and misinformation mix facts with distortions and/ or falsehoods. Disinformation is intentional. But how do we know that when looking at a specific post on social networks? Eva and I try to unpack the terminology in our latest podcast episode. Disinformation is often systematic and sustained over time. And when its spreaders are faced with debunks, they never …

Misinformation and disinformation: what’s in it for spreaders?

Since my colleague Eva and I started our project on anti-vaccination movements, reading about the topic has often led us to academic and media articles on misinformation or disinformation. The distinction between the two is not always clear, but it is based on intent. Disinformation is defined as intentional efforts to mislead people in order to sow distrust and chaos. …

Vaccine conversation tips from international reporters

Laura Oliver talked to numerous international reporters to glean suggestions for reporting on vaccines. But our podcast episode is not just for reporters – as we discuss visuals, fact-checks and tone when engaging in a politically charged conversations about vaccines, I think everyone who is having these conversations with their family and friends will find useful tips. Listen and subscribe!

The Inoculation: This man had infiltrated a misinformation website – he’s now helping a ministry

Jakub Goda is a social media maverick from Slovakia, and he is very concerned with the damage of misinformation. He has tried his hand in activism on social networks and even infiltrated a misinformation-spreading website to see how it works. As the pandemic rages, Jakub works for Slovakia’s ministry of health, where he tries to preempt misinformation and respond to …

False news, world literature maps, and why not anything goes for small countries

Culture reporting is every bit as serious as war reporting. – My friend Alexandra Belopolsky, a culture reporter Several of my Facebook friends shared this map, which claims to represent each country’s favorite book. How does one measure that, the creators did not bother to explain too much. A reddit list became the primary venue to crowdsource this information, but …