Arts professors present real facts on fake news for Beyond 60 lecture

In partnership with the Kitchener Public Library and part of the Beyond 60 Community Lecture Series, three professors from three Faculty of Arts disciplines spoke the truth about fake news in a panel discussion and Q&A on March 16^th, 2017. Over 200 community members gathered at the Kitchener Public Library to hear the three panelists discuss reasons why lies are creeping into platforms of public discourse, and the phenomena of fake news in our society.

The panel, moderated by Douglas Peers, included Robert Danisch, Anna Esselment and David DeVidi, all who discussed the topic from their disciplines of speech communication, political science and philosophy.

The conversation included information about current forms of public communication and its consequences, as well as how political campaigns are affected by fake news. Recent trends of “fake news” and “alternative facts” were also analyzed and compared to timeless circumstances of public hysteria and political debates. The panelists provided insightful perspectives on how we should react to fake news, and take action to uncover the truth when public discourse is shaped by inaccuracy.

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