What is True?

7 Episodes

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BREAKING NEWS: Why is is it so hard for journalists to fight disinformation?

2026-03-0938:15

We. Are Back. This is part 2 of our deep dive into journalism and disinformation. The old news model has broken and new models are making it hard to verify the truth.Objectivity is impossible, and really not the point of journalism. Rather, good journalists care about getting their facts right, being aware of their biases, and ensuring that their sources are crdible. Canada’s Online News Act (Bill C-18) was supposed to help, but it removed news from Meta platforms, potentially increasing misinformation and pushing people toward AI summaries with unclear sourcing.We close with four questions for evaluating news stories: What was the process for accuracy and corrections? Is the information sourced and verified? Does the outlet employ professional journalists? Is their mission to inform?Read Nina and Diane's textbook for free.

Journalism is at the front line of fighting false information

2025-11-2528:07

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.

The more you know, the more you don't know

2025-11-1824:22

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.

How misinformation has evolved, from carrots to clicks

2025-11-1224:37

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.

Fact or Fake: How to fight the information overload

2025-11-0436:18

Alexa Battler and Chris Garbutt tackle the pervasive issue of disinformation in the digital age. They are joined by media literacy experts Nina Verishagen and Diane Zerr from Saskatchewan Polytechnic, who share their insights and experiences in distinguishing between misinformation and disinformation. Nina and Diane discuss the importance of critical thinking, provide practical tools for identifying false information, and highlight real-world examples, from misleading TikTok videos about wildfires to conspiracy theories about government-started fires. Verify information, understand its context, and approach news with a skeptical mind. And go beyond the headlines! Most issues need more than a 10-word headline to explain fully. Read the whole article fully before sharing and seek reliable sources. Or don't share at all.Learn more about the hosts and our experts.Read Nina and Diane's textbook for free.

From House Hippo to Horror - The Disinformation Disaster

2025-10-2836:20

In this episode of 'What Is True,' hosts Alexa Battler and Chris Garbutt discuss the challenge of distinguishing fact from fiction in today's digital age, starting off with the classic Canadian 'House Hippo' ad campaign. The episode features librarians Nina Verishagen and Diane Zerr, who share insights from their text 'Disinformation: Dealing With the Disaster.' They explore historical and current methods of teaching media literacy, the evolution of misinformation, and the complexities of checking online sources. Key points include the importance of using fact-checking tools, understanding confirmation bias, and the necessity of critical thinking in the age of deepfakes and AI. The hosts emphasize that while media literacy begins with foundational skills like pausing before sharing, it ultimately encompasses deeper systemic issues including algorithms and propaganda.Learn more about the hosts and our experts.Read Nina and Diane's textbook for free.

Coming in October! ***What is True? The Disinformation Disaster***

2025-09-1901:48

Join us as we dive into the dark side of the 'Information Age' and how it's totally transformed how we live, work, and connect. How can we filter what's real from the slop? Who is lying to us and who is telling us the truth?

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