• Explore false cause and see how newsmakers overhype correlations
• Find out how media influences how we process information

• Our brains are wired to find patterns, sometimes creating false connections
• Media consumption can significantly impact our worldview, but you can stop it

• Scientific thinking and identifying true causal relationships
• Cultivation theory in media consumption
• Selective exposure and its impact on political understanding

• Learn to critically evaluate statistical claims
• Expose yourself to diverse perspectives
• Be aware of how media consumption shapes your worldview

• Tyler Vigen's work on false correlation

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BlueSky -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) 
Websites -Unspun’s Substack

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Dr. Sturg’s Books

Detecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake News

We are #AltGov 

In this week's UnSpun, DrSturg breaks down the research on reactance, a human behavior that explains choices like refusing masks. Delve into the psychological concept of reactance and explore why people resist when they feel their personal freedom is under threat. We discuss real-life examples and hypothetical scenarios that illustrate how reactance manifests in everyday situations, from online experiences to family gatherings, and even in educational settings.

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BlueSky -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) 
Websites -Sturg says|Unspun’s Substack

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Dr. Sturg’s Books

Detecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake News

We are #AltGov 

In this episode of UnSpun, Dr. Sturg explorse guilt by association and dive deep into modern propaganda. From historical exampless to today's digital battlegrounds, discover how propaganda has evolved and what research says makes you susceptible. 

Starting out, learn how people judge others unfairly. Seet how propaganda has changed over time, from Nazi Germany to today's social media. Those who want to influence others have found new tools but still use old tricks to persuade people.

Learn what science says about why people fall for propaganda. Scientists have found that our brains take shortcuts, our feelings can cloud our judgment, and our social groups shape what we believe. Finally, hear some clear steps anyone can take to spot and resist it.

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BlueSky -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) 
Websites -Sturg says|Unspun’s Substack

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Dr. Sturg’s Books

Detecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake News

We are #AltGov 

In this episode of UnSpun, we explore the Appeal to Purity—a tricky way people exclude others from groups to manipulate thinking. We look at how this tactic works, its history, and how to defend against it with simple strategies. From political rallies to major historical events, we'll unpack the impact of this fallacy.

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BlueSky -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) 
Websites -Sturg says|Unspun’s Substack

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Dr. Sturg’s Books

Detecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake News

We are #AltGov 

How can we be drowning in information and at the same time, badly informed? In this week's UnSpun, DrSturg breaks down the relationship of journalism and democracy. Journalism came first, and democracy wouldn't exist without it. But today, journalism is struggling and around the world, democracy is struggling right along with it. Find out how the relationship works, why it's failing and what you can do about it as you get UnSpun. 

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BlueSky -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) 
Websites -Sturg says|Unspun’s Substack

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Dr. Sturg’s Books

Detecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake News

We are #AltGov 

After US voters cast their ballots, some folks may try to win by acting like the election was rigged, In this episode, DrSturg goes over several ways newsmakers try to deceive, and you can check your own deception detection skills with an audio quiz. 

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Twitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / X
Websites -Sturg says|Unspun’s Substack

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Dr. Sturg’s Books

Detecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake News

We are #AltGov 

How do you speak truth to power when people call you biased just for checking facts? This year features several high-stakes elections, and a new threat to the truth is AI. DrSturg lets you test yourself with AI vs. real examples and she and guest, Politifact founder Bill Adair, talk about journalism's relationship with the truth. 

Check out Bill Adair's book Beyond the Big Lie. 

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Twitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / X
Websites -Sturg says|Unspun’s Substack

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Dr. Sturg’s Books

Detecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake News

We are #AltGov 

If a politician says something that's garbled or hard to understand, a journalist's go-to is to not quote, but paraphrase. But does that do a disservice when it obscures the fact that the politician is often like this? DrSturg breaks down how journalists choose to paraphrase and quote and how that might not work so well in the modern media climate. 

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Twitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / X
Websites -Sturg says|Unspun’s Substack

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Dr. Sturg’s Books

Detecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake News

We are #AltGov 

When a politician wins by 51% and says everyone he represents agrees with him, that's a fallacy of division. DrSturg breaks down this common thinking program. She and her guest, ProPublica's Craig Silverman, talk verification and how journalists and audiences can go about checking the information they get. 

Check out Craig Silverman

Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook

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Twitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / X
Websites -Sturg says|Unspun’s Substack

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[email protected]

Dr. Sturg’s Books

Detecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake News

We are #AltGov 

Disinformation from both major political figures and social media randos has hurt relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Dr. Sturg breaks down what's happening, why and what you can do about it. 

Local article on what FEMA is actually doing in NC

Follow Dr. Sturg

Twitter -Prof. Amanda Sturgill (@DrSturg) / X
Websites -Sturg says|Unspun’s Substack

Questions and Tips

[email protected]

Dr. Sturg’s Books

Detecting Deception: Tools to Fight Fake News

We are #AltGov