University of Georgia Students Combat Disinformation with Google Tools at What the Hackathon
The University of Georgia (UGA) recently hosted the fall 2024 What the Hackathon, an event designed to equip students with the skills and tools necessary to identify and combat online disinformation. Sponsored by the What the Hack podcast and facilitated by the Cox Institute, the hackathon provided students with hands-on experience using Google’s latest fact-checking tools, fostering a critical approach to online media consumption. The event underscored the growing importance of news literacy in an age of rampant misinformation.
Google News Initiative trainer Debora Wenger, associate dean and professor at the University of Mississippi’s School of Journalism and New Media, guided students through the intricacies of online verification. Wenger provided insights into the latest tools available, including the Fact Check Explorer, which empowers users to debunk fabricated text and images. The training, offered in partnership with the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), aimed to equip the next generation of journalists with the skills to identify and counter misinformation, both within newsrooms and in the broader public sphere.
Bob Sullivan, a veteran journalist and founding member of MSNBC.com, who is currently serving as the Cox Institute’s 2024 Industry Fellow, also shared his expertise with the students. Sullivan emphasized the critical need for aspiring journalists to understand the tactics employed by purveyors of misinformation and disinformation, enabling them to effectively counter these deceptive practices. He expressed optimism about the future of journalism, inspired by the students’ enthusiasm and dedication to combating online falsehoods.
The hackathon challenged student teams to differentiate between authentic and fabricated online content, applying the Google fact-checking tools they had learned about. The competition saw Jack Culberson, Patrick Hamilton, and Sebastian Baggett emerge victorious, earning first place and Cox Institute medals for their adept use of multiple tools to identify manipulated images. Parker McCollum, Sydney Shankman, and Connor Joyce secured second place. The competition highlighted the practical application of classroom learning in real-world scenarios, reinforcing the importance of hands-on experience in developing critical thinking skills.
Winning team member Hamilton emphasized the value of the hackathon in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. Baggett detailed his team’s successful use of Google’s fact-check search tool, which led them to a Snopes fact-check debunking the article they were analyzing. This streamlined their analysis, demonstrating the power of these tools in quickly and efficiently verifying online information. The competition emphasized the practical utility of these tools in a real-world context.
The What the Hackathon is a recurring event organized by the Cox Institute, reflecting its commitment to fostering news literacy among students. Keith Herndon, Lori Johnston, and Amanda Bright, leaders at the Cox Institute, oversaw the event. Kyser Lough, associate journalism professor at UGA’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication and the newly appointed director of the Certificate in News Literacy program, officially opened the hackathon, highlighting the program’s core mission. Lough’s research focuses on visual communication and solutions journalism, particularly within photojournalism, further underscoring the importance of visual literacy in the fight against misinformation.
The Certificate in News Literacy program, open to all UGA students, cultivates critical thinking skills necessary to navigate the complex media landscape. The program emphasizes the importance of accessing, analyzing, verifying, creating, and sharing media messages responsibly, with a specific focus on news. Through rigorous examination of media practices, the program empowers students to discern credible information from misinformation and become informed consumers and creators of media content. The hackathon serves as the signature event for this certificate program, providing a practical platform for students to apply their learned skills. The Google News Initiative training, offered free of charge, reinforces the commitment to equipping future journalists with the resources they need to fight the spread of misinformation.