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How to Spread Truth in the Age of Fake News


If you’re anything like me, you get frustrated seeing information spread far and wide which is simply… false. In this time of instant information distribution and instant notifications, it’s no surprise that untruths “go viral”.

Why does fake news spread?

Despite our technological progress, we humans are biologically much the same as we were thousands of years ago. Our reptilian brains are attracted to novel experiences and in this world of instant gratification, we are being trained to react quickly to “news”. Distractions are innumerable and invasive. 

In this noisy environment, how do we get our evidence-based, factual information to be noticed and shared? 


“If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.”

Yosemite Sam, Loony Tunes

One way to get our important voices heard, is to learn and understand the techniques of information dissemination in 2020, and use those techniques ourselves. Here are three things you can do to rise above the noise: 

  1. Understand your audience. What is your audience discussing? What are their concerns? Frame your work in language that your audience will understand, and be interested in. Look at news and search engine aggregators like Google News and Answer The Public for clues about what people are talking about or looking for. 
  2. Understand media. For better and worse, the internet along with apps, social media platforms and YouTube is here to stay. Understand how content is created and shared, so that you can be a part of it and learn to have your important voice heard. 
  3. Become an influencer. Engage regularly and share your wisdom. This may be through regular blog posts, contribution to reputable news outlets, tweets, workshops, or online discussion forums. 

For more information, get in touch any time. We run workshops and provide tailored support for academics and researchers who want to learn more about this landscape and how to be an important part of it. 

Author: Daisy De Windt