Learn about the media’s evolving role in political campaigns and elections in advance of the 2024 elections.

 

 

Alabama Media Professionals invites community members of all ages to hear scholars, local reporters and editors explain their processes, provide insight into ethical-journalism practices, provide an in-depth look at how current technologies are expected to affect the information landscape this year, and answer audience questions. Light snacks will be provided.

 

Speakers and panelists include: Dr. Bill Singleton, Assistant Professior of Communication and Media at Samford University; Dr. Matt Barnidge, Associate Professor in the Department of Journalism & Creative Media at The University of Alabama; Alander Rocha, government policy and healthcare reporter for Alabama Reflector; Barnett Wright, executive editor, Birmingham Times; Jon Anderson, editor, Hoover Sun; Virginia Martin, news editor, Birmingham Watch; and Andrew Yeager, managing editor for WBHM. 

 

While misinformation has always existed, its power has grown exponentially in recent years, and experts in multiple fields are warning it poses an unprecedented threat to elections taking place in 2024. Artificial intelligence (including video, photo, and audio generators) now allows those who want to deceive to do that with false content that is high-quality as well as quick and easy to produce by anyone, not just those with technical skills. Through social-media, misinformation spreads rapidly – faster and reaching more people than factual news, according to research published in the journal Science. The top global risk over the next two years is misinformation from AI, per a World Economic Forum survey.

 

This project is supported by the Alabama Humanities Alliance, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the Alabama Humanities Alliance or the National Endowment for the Humanities.