Strengthening Community Resilience To Disinformation Disa

Introduction: The Disinformation Dilemma and the 2024 Election The 21st century presents a paradox: despite unprecedented access to information, the public is not necessarily better informed. The decline of traditional news, the rise of inflammatory content online, and the ease of creating and disseminating disinformation, particularly with AI tools, contribute to this problem. The 2024 presidential election highlighted these challenges, with disinformation campaigns ranging from AI-generated robocalls to false claims about social issues. Xenophobia, transphobia, and racism further complicated the landscape, intertwining prejudice with perceptions of truth. Simultaneously, social media platforms scaled back content moderation, and legal pressures hampered counter-disinformation research, demanding innovative solutions.

PEN America’s Localized Approach: Empowering Communities Against Disinformation PEN America’s Disinformation and Community Engagement (DCE) program addressed this challenge by focusing on local initiatives. Recognizing that disinformation is a global problem requiring localized solutions, the program piloted interventions in Miami, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Phoenix. These rapidly growing, diverse Sunbelt cities served as bellwethers for understanding how disinformation operates and how communities react to counter-programming. The program aimed to distribute trustworthy information, amplify local perspectives on disinformation’s impact, and cultivate critical information consumption skills. While nonpartisan, the program acknowledged the highly polarized political climate surrounding the 2024 election and the frequent weaponization of the term "disinformation" itself.

The Post-Election Landscape: Disinformation’s Enduring Power and the Need for Resilience The Administration promised free expression. The results were anything but more freedom. With more than 22K instances since 2021, the bans have become normalized. Thu. December 4 at The Strand Bookstore in NYC

The PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers recognizes 12 emerging writers each year for their debut short story Local censorship tactics are being adopted on the state and federal levels The United States National Security Strategy recognizes the need to combat misinformation and disinformation to employ integrated deterrence successfully. The Air Force Culture and Language Center addresses that priority through an educational video series on its Culture Guide app focused on helping total force Airmen and the Department of Defense develop resilience to... “Strategic competitors like Russia and China, as well as Violent Extremist Organizations and non-political disrupters, use misinformation and disinformation campaigns to recruit members to their cause, divide our society domestically, and create rifts between...

Elizabeth Peifer, AFCLC’s Associate Professor of Regional and Cultural Studies (Europe). “We are less able to put up a strong defense if we are divided socially and if our alliances and partnerships are torn.” Dr. Peifer’s academic interests include radicalism and extremism, public memory and narrative, and European security issues. These diverse research areas converge on the problem of disinformation and its impact on military operations. Her study of factors that make disinformation effective led to developing this series as a constructive and practical approach to the problem.

The new four-part video series discusses vulnerabilities to misinformation and disinformation in the military setting and innovative tools and techniques for service members to detect, evaluate, and combat manipulative information to make informed decisions... Part one of the series provides an overview of the problem of disinformation and misinformation. Part two promotes greater self-awareness by analyzing aspects of cognitive behavior and social psychology that make individuals more susceptible to manipulation through disinformation. Part three helps viewers gain situational awareness with an understanding of the Internet and patterns of disinformation in the digital landscape. And finally, part four concludes the series with practical ways to protect against misinformation and disinformation with tools and techniques for evaluating online sources. In today’s interconnected world, the spread of disinformation poses a significant threat to communities.

False or misleading information can erode trust, fuel social division, and even incite violence. Building community resilience against disinformation requires proactive, locally-driven strategies that empower individuals to critically evaluate information and promote a culture of truth. This article explores the importance of community resilience and outlines practical steps for developing effective local strategies. One of the most effective ways to combat disinformation is by empowering individuals with the skills to identify and analyze information critically. Media literacy programs, workshops, and community forums can equip residents with the tools to: Resilience against disinformation isn’t solely an individual effort.

Strong community networks play a crucial role in fostering a culture of trust and shared responsibility. Local strategies can include: By empowering individuals with critical thinking skills and fostering collaborative networks, communities can build resilience against the detrimental effects of disinformation. These local strategies, tailored to the specific needs and challenges of each community, are essential for creating a more informed and resilient society. Navigating the Information Deluge: Empowering Informed Citizens in the Age of Disinformation The 2024 presidential election looms on the horizon, bringing with it not only the fervor of political discourse but also a renewed surge in the spread of misinformation.

Compounding this challenge is the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, a tool capable of both illuminating and obscuring the truth. In this climate of information overload, where discerning fact from fiction becomes increasingly difficult, the need for critical thinking and informed news consumption habits has never been more paramount. PEN America, a staunch advocate for free expression and literary freedom, recognizes this critical juncture and is stepping up to equip citizens with the tools to navigate this complex landscape. The organization is hosting a workshop aimed at empowering individuals to engage in constructive conversations about healthy news consumption with their friends, family, and communities. This workshop, offered by PEN America, goes beyond merely identifying misinformation. It delves into the underlying mechanics of how disinformation spreads, exploring the psychological and societal vulnerabilities that make individuals susceptible to false narratives.

Furthermore, the workshop provides practical strategies for evaluating the credibility of information sources, identifying telltale signs of manipulated content, and fostering a more discerning approach to news consumption. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the various forms disinformation can take, from outright falsehoods to subtly misleading narratives, and develop the skills to critically analyze information across different platforms, including social media, news... This comprehensive approach equips participants to become more discerning consumers of information, enabling them to separate fact from fiction and make informed decisions based on credible evidence. Beyond personal empowerment, the workshop emphasizes the importance of community engagement. It encourages participants to initiate open and respectful dialogues with their social circles about responsible news consumption. This peer-to-peer approach aims to create a ripple effect, fostering a culture of critical thinking and information literacy within families, friendships, and broader communities.

By equipping individuals with the tools to engage in constructive conversations, the workshop seeks to build a network of informed citizens who can collectively combat the spread of disinformation. This grassroots approach recognizes the power of interpersonal communication in shaping public discourse and promoting a more informed and engaged citizenry. PEN America is further incentivizing participation by offering a $15 Starbucks gift card to those who register by October 20th. This incentive underscores the organization’s commitment to making the workshop accessible and encouraging widespread engagement. Beyond the initial workshop, participants are encouraged to put their newfound knowledge into practice. By engaging in just one conversation about disinformation following the workshop and completing a brief three-minute survey about the interaction, participants can earn an additional $20.

This incentive not only encourages practical application of the workshop’s principles but also provides valuable feedback to PEN America, allowing them to refine their approach and maximize the impact of their efforts. You have full access to this open access article A Correction to this article was published on 31 May 2025 This article addresses the critical issue of societal resilience in the face of disinformation, particularly in highly digitized democratic societies. Recognizing the escalating impact of disinformation as a significant threat to societal security, the study conducts a scoping review of the literature from 2018 to 2022 to explore the current understanding and approaches to... The core contribution of the article is the development of a preliminary typological framework that addresses key elements and issue areas relevant to societal resilience to disinformation.

This framework spans multiple dimensions, including legal/regulatory, educational, political/governance, psychological/social-psychological, and technological domains. By synthesizing existing knowledge and filling identified gaps, the framework aims to serve as a foundational tool for empirical analyses and the enhancement of resilience strategies. One of the innovative aspects of the proposed framework is its potential to be transformed into a computable and customizable tool. This tool would measure the maturity level of various countermeasures against disinformation, thereby providing a practical methodology for planning and implementing effective democratic responses to disinformation. The article emphasizes the importance of this framework as both a conceptual and practical guide. It offers valuable insights for a wide range of civil society actors, including policymakers, educators, and technologists, in their efforts to protect information integrity and bolster societal resilience.

By laying the groundwork for a more comprehensive understanding of societal resilience to disinformation, the article contributes to the broader discourse on information protection and provides actionable guidance for addressing the evolving challenges posed... Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript. In highly digitized democratic societies, there are growing concerns about the impact of disinformation. European countries have faced significant challenges related to disinformation issues, such as elections, fundamental democratic values, pandemics, and migration, among others. This has prompted the European Commission (2018a) to outline four pillars in its action plan on tackling online disinformation. These include improving institutional capabilities, fostering coordinated responses, engaging the private sector, and raising awareness.

The Digital Services Act (European Union 2022) has binding regulatory powers to address large social media platforms, for instance, if they are deemed to be promoting and disseminating disinformation. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains uncertain. The Global Risks Report 2024 by the World Economic Forum (2024) clearly illustrates this, ranking disinformation as the most severe short-term (2-year) global risk and placing societal polarization in third place – with both... Report Highlights Lessons Learned to Defend Against Efforts to Mislead the Public in Florida, Texas and Arizona Communities Targeted by Election Disinformation (NEW YORK)— In a new report on strategies by local journalists, community leaders and organizers to defend against the spread of disinformation to multiple groups—immigrants, non-native English speakers, people of color, and others—PEN America... The report, titled Building Resilience: Identifying Community Solutions to Targeted Disinformation, provides critical insight for the 2024 election cycle by examining community strategies to defend against the spread of disinformation in Miami and South...

The report looks at examples of disinformation narratives that target people of color, immigrants, non-native English speakers, historically disenfranchised populations, and others, based on the 2022 midterm elections. PEN America held town halls, conversations, round tables, and interviews with journalists, faith leaders, voting rights experts and advocates, researchers, and community organizers in the regions, starting in 2022. The goal was to gain a broad understanding of efforts to mislead the public and, as proven tactics came to light, to work with community leaders and local journalists to help build resilience to... Sustained exposure to disinformation, especially when paired with a dearth of credible and inclusive local journalism-—tied to the crisis in local journalism that PEN America has previously documented—can have major consequences for individuals, public... Voter apathy is inextricably linked to it. "Voices of Truth: Empowering Communities to Counter Disinformation" – A Vital Initiative to Combat the Spread of Falsehoods

In an era defined by the rapid dissemination of information through digital platforms, the proliferation of disinformation poses a significant threat to democratic processes, social cohesion, and individual well-being. Recognizing the urgency of this challenge, the "Voices of Truth: Empowering Communities to Counter Disinformation" project emerges as a crucial initiative to bolster resilience against the insidious influence of false narratives. By fostering media literacy, critical thinking skills, and community-based fact-checking mechanisms, this project aims to equip individuals and communities with the tools to navigate the complex information landscape and distinguish truth from falsehood. The pervasiveness of disinformation, often spread through social media, online news outlets, and even interpersonal communication, has far-reaching consequences. It can erode trust in legitimate institutions, incite violence and hatred, manipulate public opinion, and undermine public health efforts. The "Voices of Truth" project addresses this challenge by focusing on empowering individuals and communities to become discerning consumers and responsible sharers of information.

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