just now watching Sunday news shows after family time this morning. Serious hat tip to @chucktodd @MeetThePress for its special focused exclusively on disinformation. They covered a lot very well. Quick highlight from each segment. /1 nbcnews.com/meet-the-press…
First segment had NYT and Wash Post editors. @PostBaron of Post made many key succinct points. This includes how people are more and more drawn to sources confirming their preexisting pov. This shift first struck me in this 2007 research. /2 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.100…
Was thrilled @chucktodd had Clint Watts on the next segment to spend time breaking down disinformation. Super valuable he used CrowdStrike as a case study. Well covered, @selectedwisdom. ps highly recommend his book, “Messing with the Enemy.” /3
Next segment had @McFaul who hit on one topic I think didn’t have enough discussion otherwise. All hypothesis / sides are not always equal and when they’re presented to be equals then it can very much serve disinfo. Hoped @chucktodd would explore implications for TV news. /4
Closing panel had fab mix. @karaswisher hit on topic super critical that had very little coverage on show. Tech has changed everything particularly how platforms provide velocity, reach, amplification. They’re like AK-47s instead of pistols for spreading propaganda/disinfo. /5
Swisher also called out Zuckerberg’s conflation of paid vs free speech and hinted at the profound issues in Facebook selling advertising with microtargeting which can include lies aimed at individuals susceptible and worth targeting them. ht @karaswisher See #2 above. /6
And of course, loved @jejohnson322 closing points on his hope in younger people who are studying mindful of these issues and the role of tech they’ve grown up on. This point also applies to our youngest lawmakers including @HawleyMO in one party and @AOC in the other. /7
Overall, high props to @chucktodd @MeetThePress for focusing on this topic. Need more of it now, ahead of 2020, across our plural and independent news outlets. More on how it should impact informing on TV and more on tech’s role. Thanks 🙏🏼. Now I’m off to see Star Wars. /end
