Unspun

Headlines are a changing art, as the pressures of digital algorithms are forcing news makers to emphasize the popular over the important. In this minisode of UnSpun, Dr. Sturg explains how headlines come to be and shares the latest research on how that affects you, the audience. 

Tweet about NYT article with buried lede. 

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: Inside the Resistance on Social Media

If you repeat a lie enough, people may start to believe it. This idea of the big lie has been around for a while, but the last 8 years it has been so bad that fact checkers had to create a whole new rating level for how bad the lying is. Dr. Sturg breaks down the history of the big lie and shows how surrogates and supporters help to spread it. 

In the interview, author and professor Dr. Jen Mercieca breaks down Texas politics, explains how dead Greek guys have a lot to say about productive communication and how fraught the present moment is in politics and democracy. 

Follow Jen

Twitter (X): @jenmercieca

Resolute Square

Check out Demagogue For President: The Rhetorical Genius of Donald Trump

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: Inside the Resistance on Social Media

In this minisode of UnSpun, Dr. Sturg breaks down how press conferences work and how they are used to shape the public's view of what a newsmaker is doing. Plus, a logical thinking review. 

Washington Post article on Chanel Rion and OANN's presence at White House Press Conferences

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

Angela V. Shelton and Frances Callier, Frangela, host the very popular The Final Word podcast on the MSW Media Network. But the podcast is just one waypoint in an accomplished career in comedy and acting. The artists discuss the rewards and challenges they have faced in their careers, explain why representation benefits everyone and give the inside scoop on what happens at a comedian house party. 

Follow Frangela

Final Word podcast

Idiot of the Week podcast

Social Media

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

It is always fair to include both sides? Dr. Sturg breaks down the history and future of objectivity in this miniepisode of UnSpun. 

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

News media and news makers can do better at working to protect democracy. In this week's episode, Dr. Sturg breaks down the research on how media cover elections and gives some examples of the the appeal to nature fallacy. Then, author, professor and NBC contributor Barbara McQuade and Dr. Sturg talk about her new book and the ways that lawmakers could act to help audiences protect themselves from disinformation. 

Follow Barbara McQuade

Instagram

Check out her book Attack from Within

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

Trying a new episode format - single host minisodes! Let me know what you think!

What's even worse for carrying disinformation than social media? Messaging apps! In this episode, Dr. Sturg reviews a deceptive tactic with some new clips and goes over the research on how apps like WhatsApp and Telegram make it very hard to stop Fake News from spreading. Plus, newsmakers are at it again. Hear some new clips to review a thinking problem we've already talked about on UnSpun. 

Here's a link to the Last Week Tonight episode mentioned on the podcast. 

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

Google and other search engines are an essential part of digital life. There's so much information online that we need help finding what we need. But that search doesn't give you all the information or even necessarily the best information. In this week's UnSpun, Dr. Sturg runs down the research on internet search and she and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) expert Matt Diamanté from Ontario's Hey Tony Agency go through what businesses will do to be at the top of the page when you search. 

Also, Dr. Sturg talks about the Fallacy of Composition - where excellent NBA players working together became a disappointing Olympic team. 

Follow Matt Diamante

Instagram

TikTok

YouTube

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

In this week's UnSpun, Dr. Sturg and author Mike Caulfield discuss how to keep yourself safer from the misinformation effect by being more aware of your own relationship to the facts you seek. Plus, Dr. Sturg goes over what a reporter means when she says "on the record" and gives some examples of false authority, which is when someone is put forward as an expert, but really doesn't have the expertise at hand. 

Follow Mike Caulfield

Mike's book: Verified

CAIR Report on Oklahoma City

Video of Washington Post reporter telling Project Veritas rep. she is being recorded

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

Someone's need to feel validated and important can affect how they view the news, politics and even their own family. In this episode, Dr. Sturg talks with psychotherapist Nick Carmody about the interplay between emotions, beliefs and actions. Plus, she talks about how features like impact and bizarreness shape the news you see. 

Follow Nick Carmody

Nick's Patreon

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