We Have Receipts...
…from the Misinformation and Marginalization Symposium. Also, looking forward to the Symposium on Religion, Media, and Public Life.
Misinformation and Marginalization: Highlights & Reflections
Last Monday, October 16th, was CITAP’s Symposium on Misinformation and Marginalization. We had panels with virtual & in-person panelists, a keynote address from Dr. Sarah Banet-Weiser, and more! We discussed research in the areas of misinformation and disinformation in diasporic communities, algorithmic amplification, and in regard to gender and sexuality.
Here are a few highlights from the day:
Keynote from Dr. Sarah Banet-Weiser
Dr. Banet-Weiser highlighted the complex dynamics of believability, doubt, and digital evidence in the context of sexual violence accusations. Dr. Banet-Weiser emphasized that while digital platforms had allowed marginalized individuals to speak out against sexual violence, believability remained subjective and often favored those in positions of social and economic power.
The speech explored the question of how doubt was constituted and disrupted in the era of digital media. It discussed the significance of various forms of digital evidence, such as photos, videos, communication records, and the role of testimony in public accusations of sexual assault.
Dr. Banet-Weiser delved into the concept of "receipts," digital artifacts that could support or challenge accusations. These artifacts could be manipulated and recontextualized, leading to debates about their authenticity and interpretation. The speech also touched upon the impact of digital platforms on the spread of misinformation and misogynistic backlash.
Panel on Dis-/mis-information in Diasporic Communities
Yiping Xia introduced Dr. Malhotra, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan Department of Communication and Media, as the anchor to the panel. Dr. Malhotra’s research focuses on the intersection of social and mobile media affordances with cultural and relational norms, particularly within understudied social and political contexts. He has a particular focus on the use of private spaces on social media and how people assessed the credibility of information within these spaces. Dr. Malhotra's work had been published in prominent journals, including Social Media + Society, Computer-Mediated Communication, Digital Journalism, and the International Journal of Communication.
The panel began with a conversation between Dr. Malhotra and Yiping Xia, providing an introduction to the theme of the panel and reflecting on his area of research. Subsequently, the panel featured four presentations from scholars including Dr. Deena Abul-Fattouh from Dalhousie University, Joao Ozawa from the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Jane Pyo from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Dr. Sarah Nguyễn from the University of Washington.
Panel on Misinformation, Algorithmic Amplification, Race, and Religion
Nanditha Narayanamoorthy introduced the second panel, with the panelists offering multidisciplinary, transcultural, and cross-national perspectives on how misinformation has affected vulnerable and marginalized groups.
To explore the role of platforms in this historical context, Nanditha welcomed our host, Dr. Robyn Caplan, an assistant professor at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy. Dr. Caplan's research focuses on the intersection of platform governance and media policy, with a particular emphasis on examining the impact of inter- and intra-organizational behavior on governance and information dissemination. Her recent work delves into the history of the Verify badge, the blue checkmark on Blackboard.
The panel began with a presentation from Dr. Melissa Brown, an assistant professor of communication at Santa Clara University, followed by three presentations from scholars including Syeda Zainab Akbar Lnu from Bowling Green University, Darsana Vijay from the University of Toronto, and Sananda Sahoo from the University of Western Ontario.
Panel on Gender, Sexuality, & Misinformation
Yvonne introduced the third panel, which was hosted by Dr. Marie Heřmanová, an assistant researcher at the Czech Academy of Sciences Institute for Sociology. The panel featured papers that explored a variety of questions related to feminized and post-feminist conspiracy theories and disinformation narratives that targeted queer and trans communities.
The panel began with a presentation from Gabrielle Beacken, a PhD student in journalism and media at UT Austin, followed by three presentations from scholars including Rachel Saunders, a PhD researcher at the University of Nottingham, Alice Marwick, an associate professor of communication at UNC and CITAP PI, concluding with a presentation from the panel’s host, Dr. Marie Heřmanová.
Fireside Chat
The symposium concluded with a fireside chat (sans fire) featuring Dr. Sarah Banet-Weiser and the three panel hosts. All of the hosts and our keynote speaker study the topic of misinformation and marginalization from different but intersecting angles.
The fireside chat addressed the concept of "post-truth" in the context of misinformation and marginalization. They discussed the complexity of the current information environment and how it affects various communities, emphasizing that it's not a straightforward issue of truth versus falsehood. They highlighted the importance of considering historical contexts and the experiences of marginalized groups.
If you would like to check out all of the panels from the day, check out the YouTube playlist here.
Religion, Media, and Public Life Symposium | November 10th
If you missed the misinfo symposium, we have good news for you: in just 3 short weeks, we have CITAP’s Religion, Media, and Public Life Symposium. Grab your free ticket, to attend in-person or online, here! The symposium will start at 9 and end at 4 with plenty of snacks and food for those attending in-person.
The symposium will address the intersection of technology, American religion, and politics. Our discussions will challenge the historical relationship between the American church, the State, and the hegemonic power of white Evangelicalism and white supremacist religious appeals. Check out the panels & panelists below:
Panel 1 | When god goes viral: Digital Culture and the Racial Dynamics of Religion
Heidi Campbell | Professor of Communication | Texas A&M University
Erika Gault | Director of the Center for the Study of African American Religious Life | National Museum of African American History and Culture
LeRhonda Manigault-Bryant | Professor of African, African American and Diaspora Studies & Director of the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History | UNC Chapel Hill
Panel 2 | God Bless the West: White Christian Nationalism and the Evangelical Internet
Whitney Phillips | Assistant Professor of Digital Platforms and Ethics | University of Oregon
Samuel Perry | Professor of Sociology | University of Oklahoma
Eden Consenstein | Assistant Professor of Religious Studies | UNC Chapel Hill
Xavier Pickett | Assistant Professor of Africana Studies | Cornell University
Panel 3 | Call to Action: Religion is Public
Heidi Campbell | Professor of Communication | Texas A&M University
Erika Gault | Director of the Center for the Study of African American Religious Life | National Museum of African American History and Culture
Whitney Phillips | Assistant Professor of Digital Platforms and Ethics | University of Oregon
Samuel Perry | Professor of Sociology | University of Oklahoma
Eden Consenstein | Assistant Professor of Religious Studies | UNC Chapel Hill
Xavier Pickett | Assistant Professor of Africana Studies | Cornell University
Affiliate Highlights
This Friday, October 27th, Chad Bryant (History Department, UNC-Chapel Hill, and CITAP affiliate) will deliver the Kleio Prize Lecture as part of UNC’s University Research Week. Bryant’s talk is titled "Blogging and Belonging: Prague's Czech-Vietnamese Community and What Social Media Might Have Been.” 👏👏👏
For those in the area, the talk will take place in Pauli Murray Hall 569 from 12:30pm to 2:00pm. Food and drink will be provided.
We are hiring!
We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join us and work with CITAP & CMLP. This postdoc will serve as a communicator between academic researchers and policymakers (both in government and within technology platforms) Read the full description here and share the posting!
We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join us and work with Dr. Francesca Tripodi and the Search Prompt Integrity & Learning Lab (SPILL). Read the full description here and share the posting!
Coming Soon
November
November 1 at CITAP: CITAP is hosting a book club! We will be reading “White Evangelical Racism” by Anthea Butler. Email citap@unc.edu for more information.
November 10 at CITAP: Symposium on Religion, Media, and Public Life.
Confirmed panelists include Whitney Phillips, Samuel Perry, Eden Consenstein, Xavier Pickett, Erika Gault, LeRhonda Manigault-Bryant, and Heidi Campbell, with additional participants to be named in the weeks to come. Register to join in person or virtually!