On Wednesday 23 November, Nobel-Prize winning author and journalist Maria Ressa discussed social media misinformation and its implications for democracy at the University of Westminster’s historic Fyvie Hall.
Dr Sal Jarvis, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Education, introduced Maria, noting her values of being progressive, compassionate, responsible and championing diversity matched those of Westminster.
The event was organised by Women in Journalism and the Journalist’s Charity in partnership with the University of Westminster. Alison Phillips, Daily Mirror Editor and the Chair of Women in Journalism, interviewed Maria during the event.
Maria explained the dangers of misinformation and how they can spread online. Speaking of her own experiences in challenging misinformation in the Philippines, Maria pointed out how just 26 fake accounts could influence three million social media users in three months.
Such misinformation, she argued, could have a big impact on democracy. If there is no integrity of facts, then mistruths can be taken as truths, impacting how people voted in elections. Currently, she said, government legislation fails to curb the rapid spread of misinformation online.
Despite this, Maria insisted, it is crucial that journalists continue to stand up for what’s right and share truthful stories that inform their audiences. Such stories may not receive as much online traffic and therefore may be less profitable, but are critical to the proper functioning of democracy.
Summing up why this approach is so important, Maria said: “Inspiration spreads as fast as anger.”
At the moment, Maria argued, coded bias on social media creates echo chambers online where people only receive opinions that match their own. Naturally, this distorts which voices are heard. Maria said: “If you are marginalised in the real world, you are more marginalised online.”
Watch the event online below.
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