Kia ora from Marianne and Jess,
We know lots of you care deeply about good information and have been struggling to find effective ways to halt the spread of false information and give good information a chance to thrive.
This is all the more urgent as we head into an election.
That's why we're delighted to announce new Countering False Information trainings you can join in September. Each training includes two x 90 minute online sessions where people will learn and practice the most effective ways to counter false information.
Book using the links below before 10 September and take advantage of early bird pricing:
Training #1 led by Marianne Elliott on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 September 9.30 - 11.00
Training #2 led by Jess Berentson-Shaw on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 September 9.30 - 11.00
We are offering five discounted places per training for grassroots activists and advocates working in a volunteer role. These discounted places are for the first five people to book using voucher code GRASSROOTS.
Many in our community have asked us for a short training focused on countering false information like this, and we are thrilled that New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi and InternetNZ provided the additional funding we needed to make it. Union delegates and members can access this training free via NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi using this booking link.
Ngā mihi
Marianne and Jess
What to expect from Countering False Information training
Our Countering False Information training is a hands-on training focussed on what you can do to counter false information in your work and in your environment. We will cover three tactics you can use to deal with false information and then provide opportunity to practice together.
Training format
1 hour of provided pre-reading
Two x 90 minute live virtual zoom sessions with expert trainer
What you'll learn
Why false information can be so compelling to people
Why some commonly used tactics for combating false information don’t work
What does work to counter and prevent the spread of false information
Why it works
What it looks like in practice.
Before the course you will receive the training handbook which supports the training and includes about 1 hour of pre-reading that we ask participants to do before the day of the training.
Who should attend
Advocates, campaigners, communicators, organisers, fundraisers, policy makers, scientists, researchers, writers, and community members who want practical support to counter false information
Delegates and members of NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi can access free union specific training
What people say about Countering False Information training
We had the opportunity to pilot this training in partnership with NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi last week. This is what people had to say before and after the training.
What people were struggling with before the training:
Inability to have a rational conversation with people about false information - it doesn’t matter what evidence you present them with they are wedded to their 'research'
Finding people persuaded by false information in surprising places
The persistence or ‘stickiness’ of false information, it seems so hard to shift
The interpersonal awkwardness of talking to people about their belief in false information - it is emotionally draining
It is hard to find the patience to stay in the conversation with people persuaded by false information
I struggle to find ways to navigate these conversations
A challenge is the time it takes to counter false information - countering takes a lot more time than sharing false information and it uses up all the time we have to communicate our own good information.
What people said after the training:
I really enjoyed that, I really liked the inoculate part, I feel that’s where we have the real opportunity
I valued the reminder that connection really matters - it’s easy to find yourself in an adversarial position (some of these beliefs are genuinely angering) but good to have the reminder and some tools to help
I liked the acknowledgement that it is hard - it gave a sense that we are all in this together and that we don’t have to be perfect
The advice around prebunking is helpful - when preparing campaigns we can proactively identify likely sources of false information and plan for it in advance.