Webinar Series
April 23, 28, 30, and May 5, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing us to cope with uncertainty on a grand scale. Many of us are searching for understanding through credible reporting and evidence-based information that help us sort fact from fiction to provide a basis for our decision making during these extraordinary times.

That’s why the University of Rhode Island’s Metcalf Institute and the News Literacy Project partnered to present a four-part webinar series, COVID-19 in Context: News Coverage and News Literacy in Uncertain Times. The series explored one of the most urgent science communication challenges of our lives through the insights of journalists, news literacy education experts, and scientists.

Beginning April 23, the series highlighted the experiences of journalists who are covering this evolving pandemic and the challenges of cutting through misinformation—while providing you with the tips and tools to do so, too. We closed the series with a discussion about the specific communication challenges posed by all the uncertainties around COVID-19 and how to look for reliable sources to help clarify the unknowns.

Thanks to the support of The Ruth and Hal Launders Charitable Trust, Metcalf Institute and the News Literacy Project were able to offer these webinars at no charge. 

Webinar 1: News Coverage in a Pandemic
April 23, 1 p.m. EDT
View Webinar
COVID-19 represents an unusual challenge for the press. Journalists from small and large outlets and beat and general assignment reporters, they all must cover a rapidly changing story that integrates science, public health, economics, policy, and politics. As newsrooms struggle with understaffing and a lack of experienced science reporters, how are they managing this challenge? In this webinar, speakers will share an overview of COVID-19 news coverage and describe their experiences reporting on this crisis.
Speakers:
Amy Mitchell, Director, Journalism Research, Pew Research Center
Apoorva Mandavilli, freelance science journalist contributing to the New York Times
Jill Jackson, News Director, KUOW radio
Erica Hensley, Investigative Reporter, Mississippi Today

Webinar 2: 10 Critical News Literacy Skills
April 28, 1 p.m. EDT
View Webinar
Being able to tell fact from fiction is critical right now. The coronavirus pandemic has necessitated rapid dissemination of information from many sources, including government officials, the news media, and social media. How can you be sure you are getting accurate information? This webinar will identify ten critical news literacy skills to help you be a smart, active consumer of news and other public information.
Speaker: John Silva, Director of Education, News Literacy Project

Webinar 3: Digital Forensics–How to Fact Check Like a Pro
April 30, 1 p.m. EDT
View Webinar
Building on the 10 critical news literacy skills of the previous webinar, this presentation will introduce participants to some of the tactics that purveyors of misinformation commonly employ, then demonstrate how to use a variety of free online tools to debunk false content like a pro. Participants will learn how to use critical observation skills, reverse image search engines, lateral reading strategies, web archivers and basic geolocation tools to determine the authenticity, original context and source of viral content.
Speaker: Peter Adams, Senior Vice President of Education, News Literacy Project

Webinar 4: Countering Misinformation in a Crisis: Making Sense of Science during COVID-19
May 5, 1 p.m. EDT
View Webinar
Because COVID-19 is so new, scientists and medical professionals are still working to answer many basic questions about its spread and treatment. Even as the research advances every day, the scientific uncertainties and unclear communication make it easy to spread misinformation. Inaccurate information has spread so quickly about COVID-19 that some have described this as an “infodemic.” Webinar speakers will discuss how to understand these uncertainties and actively counter misinformation.
Speakers:
Suzannah Gonzales, Associate Director of Education, News Literacy Project
C. Brandon Ogbunu, Assistant Professor, Brown University
Leysia Palen, Professor of Computer Science and Professor and Founding Chair of the Department of Information Science, University of Colorado