Saving Journalism from Fake News and Fake Records

[mozfest-bot]

[ UUID ] 653d6d0e-4899-4460-94a3-bac364e19db2

[ Session Name ] Saving Journalism from Fake News and Fake Records
[ Primary Space ] Open Innovation
[ Secondary Space ] Web Literacy

[ Submitter's Name ] Amy McCullough Mosley
[ Submitter's Affiliated Organisation ] INFLUENCE TX
[ Submitter's Github ] AmyMcCullough

[ Additional facilitators ] Jess Sauer

What will happen in your session?

In my session we will discuss the potential risks of crowd-sourced data in fueling "fake news." Is there a danger in creating “fake data” in well-intentioned open data projects, which can then be used to create more “fake news”? As a former investigative reporter I know that reporters can’t afford to write about private money in politics without the public records to back up their claims, because they can be sued for defamation and damages and be shut down if they do so. I will explain a project I'm working on in Texas that aggregates data with specificity so that journalists can easily use it worry-free and lawsuit-free.

What is the goal or outcome of your session?

I hope people will see the need for specificity – which means online data tools that can give users the big-picture perspective and while also directing users back to the individual public records that were filed with government entities regarding campaign finance and lobbying money in state politics. I hope people will be inspired by the groups I am working with in Austin, Texas called INFLUENCE TX and Texans for Public Justice that have an online database tool that verifies its analysis with public records. I hope people will have and shares ideas about how we can spread this information to other groups and encourage tactical transparency and media integrity online.

If your session requires additional materials or electronic equipment, please outline your needs.

Time needed

60 mins

[omnignorant]

@phillipadsmith @acabunoc @edrushka FYI this is a ATX Hack for Change project and related to this team too: #750

[omnignorant]

Can you confirm if Amy is receiving a stipend?

[phillipadsmith]

@omnignorant Confirmed. @AmyMcCullough should have received a separate email about the stipend. I'm sending a session confirmation message now.

[KirstieJane]

[ Facilitator 1 Name ] Amy McCullough Mosley
[ Facilitator 1 Github ] @AmyMcCullough
[ Facilitator 1 Twitter ] @mcculloughwrite
[ Facilitator 2 Name ] Jess Sauer
[ Facilitator 2 Github ] ❓
[ Facilitator 2 Twitter ] ❓

Requirements