Local collaboration is key to slowing misinformation
“Again and again, we found that the most damaging misinformation narratives started as local rumors, memes, and misleading photos repackaged and reshared across the country.”
There are no miraculous buttons you can press that will stop the spread of dangerous misinformation online. No sophisticated tech tools or algorithms transparent enough on their face to save humanity. No fact-checks that are so perfectly constructed they get around our cognitive machinery.
But that doesn’t mean we’re powerless. On the contrary, when local media has the opportunity and resources to collaborate and work toward a common goal that’s when strong journalism oriented around public service happens.