Mis/Disinformation and Democratic Society

Drawing on a variety of perspectives and methodologies, this collection explores the intricate relationship between mis- and disinformation and the functioning of democratic society.

This book seeks to show how mis- and disinformation is destabilizing our collective confidence in institutions fundamental to the functioning of democratic society, including our electoral processes, our perceptions of trust in government officials and institutions, our healthcare, education, economic, and media systems; and even our communities and interpersonal relationships. Topics covered in this book include the role of Artificial Intelligence in automating deception; how financial crises and journalistic norms in the news industry create favorable conditions for the amplification and laundering of political disinformation; and how our emotional states impact our susceptibility to misinformation. Throughout, the authors provide nuanced definitions of key terms such as ＂conspiracy theory＂ and ＂digital democracy＂ which help level the field for future research.

Mis/Disinformation and Democratic Society is recommended reading for researchers and advanced scholars in this dynamic area of study.

Melissa Zimdars is an associate professor in the Department of Communication and Media at Merrimack College, USA. Her work on mis/disinformation has appeared in numerous academic and popular outlets, including New Media and Society, Social Media + Society, International Journal of Communication, Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, the Chronicle Review, and the Washington Post. She has also delivered several keynote lectures about mis/disinformation for local, national, and international professional and academic organizations, and has been interviewed about fake news and mis/disinformation by dozens of news outlets around the world, including the Washington Post, Boston Globe, NPR, BBC, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Scientific American.