The City Library to Host a Community Discussion on Facts and Fake News in America

 

SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake area residents who are interested in gaining a better understanding of “fake news” are invited to a panel discussion on Tuesday, April 11 at 7pm at the Marmalade Branch of the Salt Lake City Public Library.

 

The discussion, which is titled “Facts, Fake News, and a Post-Truth America”, will be moderated by KRCL RadioActive Host and Executive Producer Lara Jones and will include the following panelists:

 

  • George Pyle, Editorial Writer for The Salt Lake Tribune

  • Enrique Limón, Editor for Salt Lake City Weekly

  • Allison Pond, Senior Projects Editor for Deseret News

  • Joel Campbell, Associate Professor of Journalism at Brigham Young University

 

The event is hosted by The City Library, KRCL, and Utah Humanities and will explore the varieties of “fake news” that exist and their effects on public opinion and discourse in America.

 

A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 59% of U.S. adults want just facts—with no interpretation—in their news. The same survey found that not everyone can agree on which facts are true. (Source: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/18/news-media-interpretation-vs-facts/)

 

“In order to fully participate in democracy, we must have free and open access to information, as well as the skills to evaluate information,” said Peter Bromberg, Executive Director of the Salt Lake City Public Library. “Events like this discussion help people in Salt Lake City sharpen their critical thinking skills in our increasingly complex and partisan information landscape. The City Library has long been recognized as “The Place Where Democracy Happens” — and we continually strive to embody that ideal for everyone that we serve.”

 

“Facts, Fake News, and a Post-Truth America” is free of charge and open to the public. For more information about this and other events taking place at The City Library, visit slcpl.org/events.