Faith In Action: Countering Misinformation
Activity time: 0 minutes
Description of Activity
Participants examine the press for dishonesty.
Invite the group to discuss a political or social issue that is important to them. It could be immigration or gay rights or racism. Ask what information they have heard about the issue that could well be untrue, and is harmful to people. For example: "Mexicans don't pay taxes on their earnings," "All gay people are sexually promiscuous," or "All Asians are smart."
Spend time tracking down misinformation. Examine TV news, Internet blogs, publicity of local organizations, and other sources. Where did the misinformation begin? How has it spread? Discuss how you could counter such misinformation. Does the organization need to be educated? Should the TV channel be boycotted? Would it be useful to support groups that are putting out the truth? Choose an action the group can take safely, and take it. Analyze the results.