Countering Propaganda and Disinformation: How Communications Can Help Preserve Democracy

This event focused on what communicators and other Americans can do to preserve democracy by countering propaganda, disinformation, and the rise of extremism.
Thursday, September 1, 12:00–1:30 pm ET
Watch the video (Approx. 1.5 hours)

MODERATOR MAREK POSARD, Ph.D., Social Scientist, Professor of Policy Analysis, Pardee RAND Graduate School, RAND Corporation

TODD C. HELMUS, Senior Behavioral Scientist; Affiliate Faculty, Pardee RAND Graduate School

MUBIN SHAIKH, Professor of Public Safety, Seneca College; Counter Extremism Specialist, Parents for Peace; former security intelligence and counter terrorism operative

IVANKA PJESIVAC, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Georgia

This three-part series on “Propaganda and Democracy” is produced in conjunction with the RAND Corporation

Previously on Propaganda and Democracy

EVENT 1: A Century of Propaganda: from the Nazis, Stalin and the Rohingya Refugee Crisis to today’s events
Thursday, August 4, 2022
Watch the video (Approx. 1.5 hours)
In this event, we reviewed the history of propaganda that incites violence and support for violence. With Todd C. Helmus, Senior Behavioral Scientist, Affiliate Faculty, Pardee RAND Graduate School; Steven Luckert, Senior Program Curator, Levine Institute for Holocaust Education at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.; Lisa Brooten, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the College of Arts and Media, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; and Gavin Wilde, senior fellow, Technology and International Affairs Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

EVENT 2: How QANON, Proud Boys, and Extremist Media Destroyed Public Trust
Thursday, August 18, 12:00–1:30 pm ET
Watch the video (Approx. 1.5 hours)
This event addressed extremist ecosystems and media that helped propel the January 6 attack and the rise of political violence in America. With Todd C. Helmus, Senior Behavioral Scientist; Affiliate Faculty, Pardee RAND Graduate School; Colin P. Clarke, Director of Research, The Soufan Group; Pauline Moore, Ph.D., Political Scientist, RAND Corporation; and Seamus Hughes, Deputy Director, Program on Extremism, George Washington University.

Thanks to our Sponsors

Sponsored in part by Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia; Amazon; Page; iW Group; Kit Stinson & Richard Muldoon; Muck Rack; and CommPRO.