Join us for the third program in our media series; this one focuses on health misinformation.

Misinformation about health is driven by the ease of sharing in the digital age. UConn Journalism Department Head Marie K. Shanahan will address how news literacy — knowledge of the standards of high-quality, evidence-based journalism — can help people decide what online health information to trust, share and act upon. She will also explain some of the psychological and motivating factors that influence our information processing and behavior.

Marie K. Shanahan is an associate professor and head of the Department of Journalism at the University of Connecticut. Her academic research and teaching focus on the intersection of journalism and digital communication technology. She studies trends in digital discourse — particularly online commenting on news sites and social media, misinformation and news literacy. She has worked as a news reporter, online producer and digital editor for more than 20 years. Professor Shanahan was selected as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar in 2020-21. During Summer 2022, she worked with faculty and students in Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines to study attitudes and pathways to news among college students. She also researched the challenges faced by provincial journalists, including the spread of misinformation. Professor Shanahan serves on the board of directors of three non-profit organizations: Connecticut Health Investigative Team, Connecticut Foundation for Open Government and The Connecticut Mirror.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Avon Library.

Please register so that we can set the community room up with appropriate spacing.