JOIN US FOR CIVIC LEADERSHIP ACADEMY TONIGHT!
Thursday, October 2 2025 at 6:30 PM EDT
Become an informed and critical media consumer.
Learn to detect and reject misinformation, disinformation, and (actual) fake news.
Participants in this event will learn about the following topics:
-What is (and isn’t) fake news
-The dangers of fake news
-The political deployment of fake news
-The role of media in U.S. politics (good, bad, and ugly)
-How to detect fake news sites and stories
-How to verify facts before spreading fake news
-How to call out fake news while maintaining healthy relationships
-The difference between news and satire
American Democracy Project Director Elizabeth Bennion will be joined by Susan Thomas, Julie Feighery, and Steve Sigety of the Schurz Library who will deliver the HOW TO (detect and reject disinformation) section of this workshop as part of the library’s broader mission to promote information literacy for ALL students. Source verification and usage is a critical skill for people from all backgrounds and belief systems.
This event can be attended as a stand-alone event or as part of the Civic Leadership Academy series. The event is free and open to the public. Students participating in IU South Bend’s Engage & Thrive Program can check in to earn $ for attending! Students participating in multiple Civic Leadership Academy events are encouraged to contact iusbadp@iu.edu to ask how to earn academic credit.
This event is part of the American Democracy Project’s Fall 2025 Civic Leadership Academy. People who attend all three events in Part 1 of this series and complete brief self-administered online quizzes will earn a Civic Leadership Academy Certificate recognizing their completion of Civic Leadership Academy Part 1: Thinking and Acting as An Informed Citizen. ALL EVENTS ARE FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
Other events in PART 1 of the Civic Leadership Academy series include:
–Critical Thinking: Detecting and Rejecting Logical Fallacies (Thursday, September 25, 6:30 PM)
–Lobbying and Advocacy Tips: Contacting Elected Officials (Thursday, October 9, 6:30 PM)