CMNS 415 Disinformation and Media

The aim of this course is to help students develop disinformation and media literacy through exploring the spread of disruptive information, whether it be disinformation or misinformation, in mass and social media. Students will learn how to use fact checking tools, such as Snopes, create codebooks to conduct primary research on disinformation, be introduced to the principles of topic modelling to study disinformation, and practice discourse and content analysis in this field. Students will study the effects of disruptive information on their personal lives as well as local, national, and international communities to develop a filter for truth and safely navigate information on mass or social media, unlearn or correct existing biases, avoid being passively influenced by the rumours and conspiracy theories in the media, and learn how to stop and report disinformation.