Unspun

We learn as children to follow the rules, but sometimes people use the rules deceptively to avoid addressing uncomfortable topics.  Dr. Sturg goes through examples of misplaced focus and talks with Ajay Parasram and Alex  Khasnabish, hosts of a YouTube series called "Frequently Asked White Questions."Check out Frequently Asked White QuestionsFollow Ajay ParasramFollow Alex Khasnabish Follow Dr. SturgTwitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / XWebsites -Sturg says|Unspun’s SubstackQuestions and TipsTheUnspunPodcast@gmail.comDr. Sturg’s BooksDetecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake NewsWe are #AltGov 

You have a lot of choices about how to spend your time, so how and why do you choose to spend it with certain media? In this episode, Dr. Sturg breaks down the things that make media appealing and shows how deceptive newsmakers can use these human tendencies against you. Follow Dr. SturgTwitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / XWebsites -Sturg says|Unspun’s SubstackQuestions and TipsTheUnspunPodcast@gmail.comDr. Sturg’s BooksDetecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake NewsWe are #AltGov 

From COVID to presidential sex scandals, newsmakers use distraction to tell the story they want and take your attention from the story you *need*. Dr. Sturg breaks down this common issues with several examples of politician deception for you to try your skills. Then, she and award-winning journalist Ben Welsh talk about data journalism. Data stories are some of the most popular that journalists do, letting them get first-hand truth and create fun interactive pieces like election maps and more.  Follow Ben WelshFollow Ben on social media Follow Dr. SturgTwitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / XWebsites -Sturg says|Unspun’s SubstackQuestions and TipsTheUnspunPodcast@gmail.comDr. Sturg’s BooksDetecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake NewsWe are #AltGov 

How does the news decide who to interview, and what do they do with people who just don't want to answer the questions? Dr. Sturg breaks it down in this week's mini-sode of UnSpun.  Here's an example of a newsmaker being evasive in an interview.  Send us your questions and comments at theunspunpodcast@gmail.com and don't forget to like and subscribe! Follow Dr. SturgTwitter - Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / XWebsite - TheUnspunPodCast@substack.comThe Book - We are #AltGovhttps://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538162095/We-Are-#ALTGOV-Social-Media-Resistance-from-the-Inside

Do attorneys plan for media coverage as a part of a trial? Do reporters covering courts do a good job, or are they missing things. Asha Rangappa and Renato Mariotti answer questions about the intersection between the courts and the media in this episode of UnSpun. Asha Rangappa and Renato Mariotti have a ton of experience in different parts of the justice system and host the It's Complicated podcast that's part of MSW Media. They talk about how lawyers see the reporters who cover courts and what they think about defendants who want to speak to the public. Listen to It's Complicated. Follow Asha RangappaFollow Renato Mariotti Follow Dr. SturgTwitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / XWebsites -Sturg says|Unspun’s SubstackQuestions and TipsTheUnspunPodcast@gmail.comDr. Sturg’s BooksDetecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake NewsWe are #AltGov  

They are name-calling in congressional committees and judges don't like it when witnesses roll their eyes. It's summer travel time in North America, and as we get ready to go see those relatives we really disagree with, we're re-airing an episode on getting along across difference. Dr. Sturg breaks down the research on how you can get along and maybe even help someone change their mind. Send us your questions and comments at theunspunpodcast@gmail.com and don't forget to like and subscribe! Follow Dr. SturgTwitter - Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / XWebsite - Sturg saysThe Book - We are #AltGovhttps://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538162095/We-Are-#ALTGOV-Social-Media-Resistance-from-the-Inside

Headlines are a changing art, as the pressures of digital algorithms are forcing news makers to emphasize the popular over the important. In this minisode of UnSpun, Dr. Sturg explains how headlines come to be and shares the latest research on how that affects you, the audience. Tweet about NYT article with buried lede.  Follow Dr. SturgTwitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / XWebsites -Sturg says|Unspun’s SubstackQuestions and TipsTheUnspunPodcast@gmail.comDr. Sturg’s BooksDetecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake NewsWe are #AltGov: Inside the Resistance on Social Media  

If you repeat a lie enough, people may start to believe it. This idea of the big lie has been around for a while, but the last 8 years it has been so bad that fact checkers had to create a whole new rating level for how bad the lying is. Dr. Sturg breaks down the history of the big lie and shows how surrogates and supporters help to spread it. In the interview, author and professor Dr. Jen Mercieca breaks down Texas politics, explains how dead Greek guys have a lot to say about productive communication and how fraught the present moment is in politics and democracy. Follow JenTwitter (X): @jenmerciecaResolute SquareCheck out Demagogue For President: The Rhetorical Genius of Donald TrumpFollow Dr. SturgTwitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / XWebsites -Sturg says|Unspun’s SubstackQuestions and TipsTheUnspunPodcast@gmail.comDr. Sturg’s BooksDetecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake NewsWe are #AltGov: Inside the Resistance on Social Media 

In this minisode of UnSpun, Dr. Sturg breaks down how press conferences work and how they are used to shape the public's view of what a newsmaker is doing. Plus, a logical thinking review. Washington Post article on Chanel Rion and OANN's presence at White House Press Conferences Follow Dr. SturgTwitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / XWebsites -Sturg says|Unspun’s SubstackQuestions and TipsTheUnspunPodcast@gmail.comDr. Sturg’s BooksDetecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake NewsWe are #AltGov

Angela V. Shelton and Frances Callier, Frangela, host the very popular The Final Word podcast on the MSW Media Network. But the podcast is just one waypoint in an accomplished career in comedy and acting. The artists discuss the rewards and challenges they have faced in their careers, explain why representation benefits everyone and give the inside scoop on what happens at a comedian house party. Follow FrangelaFinal Word podcastIdiot of the Week podcastSocial Media Follow Dr. SturgTwitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / XWebsites -Sturg says|Unspun’s SubstackQuestions and TipsTheUnspunPodcast@gmail.comDr. Sturg’s BooksDetecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake NewsWe are #AltGov

It is always fair to include both sides? Dr. Sturg breaks down the history and future of objectivity in this miniepisode of UnSpun. Follow Dr. SturgTwitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / XWebsites -Sturg says|Unspun’s SubstackQuestions and TipsTheUnspunPodcast@gmail.comDr. Sturg’s BooksDetecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake NewsWe are #AltGov

News media and news makers can do better at working to protect democracy. In this week's episode, Dr. Sturg breaks down the research on how media cover elections and gives some examples of the the appeal to nature fallacy. Then, author, professor and NBC contributor Barbara McQuade and Dr. Sturg talk about her new book and the ways that lawmakers could act to help audiences protect themselves from disinformation.  Follow Barbara McQuadeInstagramCheck out her book Attack from Within Follow Dr. SturgTwitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / XWebsites -Sturg says|Unspun’s SubstackQuestions and TipsTheUnspunPodcast@gmail.comDr. Sturg’s BooksDetecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake NewsWe are #AltGov 

Trying a new episode format - single host minisodes! Let me know what you think!What's even worse for carrying disinformation than social media? Messaging apps! In this episode, Dr. Sturg reviews a deceptive tactic with some new clips and goes over the research on how apps like WhatsApp and Telegram make it very hard to stop Fake News from spreading. Plus, newsmakers are at it again. Hear some new clips to review a thinking problem we've already talked about on UnSpun. Here's a link to the Last Week Tonight episode mentioned on the podcast.  Follow Dr. SturgTwitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / XWebsites -Sturg says|Unspun’s SubstackQuestions and TipsTheUnspunPodcast@gmail.comDr. Sturg’s BooksDetecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake NewsWe are #AltGov

Google and other search engines are an essential part of digital life. There's so much information online that we need help finding what we need. But that search doesn't give you all the information or even necessarily the best information. In this week's UnSpun, Dr. Sturg runs down the research on internet search and she and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) expert Matt Diamanté from Ontario's Hey Tony Agency go through what businesses will do to be at the top of the page when you search. Also, Dr. Sturg talks about the Fallacy of Composition - where excellent NBA players working together became a disappointing Olympic team. Follow Matt DiamanteInstagramTikTokYouTube  Follow Dr. SturgTwitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / XWebsites -Sturg says|Unspun’s SubstackQuestions and TipsTheUnspunPodcast@gmail.comDr. Sturg’s BooksDetecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake NewsWe are #AltGov 

In this week's UnSpun, Dr. Sturg and author Mike Caulfield discuss how to keep yourself safer from the misinformation effect by being more aware of your own relationship to the facts you seek. Plus, Dr. Sturg goes over what a reporter means when she says "on the record" and gives some examples of false authority, which is when someone is put forward as an expert, but really doesn't have the expertise at hand.  Follow Mike CaulfieldMike's book: Verified CAIR Report on Oklahoma CityVideo of Washington Post reporter telling Project Veritas rep. she is being recorded Follow Dr. SturgTwitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / XWebsites -Sturg says|Unspun’s SubstackQuestions and TipsTheUnspunPodcast@gmail.comDr. Sturg’s BooksDetecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake NewsWe are #AltGov 

Someone's need to feel validated and important can affect how they view the news, politics and even their own family. In this episode, Dr. Sturg talks with psychotherapist Nick Carmody about the interplay between emotions, beliefs and actions. Plus, she talks about how features like impact and bizarreness shape the news you see.  Follow Nick CarmodyNick's Patreon  Follow Dr. SturgTwitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / XWebsites -Sturg says|Unspun’s SubstackQuestions and TipsTheUnspunPodcast@gmail.com Dr. Sturg’s BooksDetecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake NewsWe are #AltGov

One way newsmakers to get people to agree with them  is to limit their choices so they  look like the reasonable one. But they may not be reasonable at all. Learn about false choice this week, and then Dr. Sturg talks with author Teri Kanefield about her upcoming graphic novel "Firehose of Falsehood." Follow Teri KanefieldTeri's book FireHose of Falsehood Harvard Library Resources on Scientific Racism Follow Dr. SturgTwitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / XWebsites -Sturg says|Unspun’s SubstackQuestions and TipsTheUnspunPodcast@gmail.comDr. Sturg’s BooksDetecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake NewsWe are #AltGov

Every fact can matter, but you wouldn’t know it from the way some newsmakers act. It’s tempting to ignore facts that don’t support what you want to believe, but that’s a logic crime called cherry picking. Dr. Sturg goes through several examples. Then she and then she and American Oversight’s Katie Anthony talk about how FOIA and other records laws can help keep the government accountable. Your taxes pay for the data that the government keeps, and knowing what goes on can help everyone to save democracy. Finally, while a FOIA request about FDA information can take many months to get answered, an anonymous Twitter account can apparently get an answer straight from the top. AltFDA talks about a time when that happened related to concerns about inspections at a facility that makes a lot of a generic painkiller that’s probably in your medicine cabinet right now. GuestsFollow American Oversight@weareoversight@alt_fda  Follow Dr. SturgTwitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / XWebsites -Sturg says|Unspun’s SubstackQuestions and TipsTheUnspunPodcast@gmail.comDr. Sturg’s BooksDetecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake NewsWe are #AltGov

Do high-profile debates truly shift opinions or votes? On this episode, Dr. Sturg gets into the studies to see if debates produce real changes. From Kennedy-Nixon to Romney-Obama, she looks at famous debates and explores what the research says about impacts on voters.She also looks the logical flaw of hasty generalization, using debate slip-ups as case studies. See how speakers and listeners both frequently overgeneralize from single examples.Plus, she talks about polling with political scientist, Dr. Ken Fernandez. Can polls be trusted after 2016? We separate polling facts from fiction on topics like margin of error. Ken shares his insider take on how campaigns use polls and why solid polling matters for a functioning democracy.Find out whether debates live up to the hype. Learn how to catch hasty generalizations. Get an expert take on improving polling for future elections. Get UnSpun.Follow KenTwitterLinkedIn Follow Dr. SturgTwitter - Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / XWebsites - Sturg says | Unspun’s SubstackQuestions and TipsTheUnspunPodcast@gmail.comDetecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake Newshttps://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538141045/Detecting-Deception-Tools-to-Fight-Fake-NewsWe are #AltGovhttps://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538162095/We-Are-#ALTGOV-Social-Media-Resistance-from-the-Inside

It's the holidays, and that means visits with those challenging relatives and chance encounters when you travel. In this episode, Dr. Sturg reviews some ideas from communication studies about how to have productive conversations with people you disagree with. Why do grown adult politicians call other people mean names? Personal attacks are designed to make you trust the other person less, and they are deceptive. In this episode of UnSpun, learn about how those attacks work, and how a little laughter can make politics easier to take, as Dr. Sturg and Canadian comedy influencer Brittlestar talk about the power of comedy in news. Send us your questions and comments at theunspunpodcast@gmail.com and don't forget to like and subscribe! Follow Dr. SturgTwitter - Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / XWebsite - Sturg saysThe Book - We are #AltGovhttps://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538162095/We-Are-#ALTGOV-Social-Media-Resistance-from-the-Inside