Read here about our full webinar series on Inequalities and Media Education.
One of the most striking outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the spirited and public opposition to vaccinations and vaccine mandates. The gradually fraying line between virtual and offline “real” worlds increasingly scrambles communication and “common sense” (Gramsci). In this 7th webinar, we will explore the escalation of disinformation and conspiracy theories. Michael Hoechsmann, Bhargavi Kumaran and Miranda McKee will contextualize findings of a data scraping and visualization project, the data drawn primarily from Twitter over the first six months of 2022, a period that wraps around the events of January and February when the Canadian capital (Ottawa) was occupied by the so-called Freedom Convoy. This presentation is part demonstration of (small-scale) “big data” analysis, and also socio-cultural commentary on the complications of public discourse in the mirror world (Klein, 2023).
DAY: Thursday, March 21, 2024
TIME: 12pm EST/ 4pm GMT/ 930pm IST (check for DST)
Michael Hoechsmann is a Professor in the Faculty of Education at Lakehead University. Two recent books include (co-edited) Education for democracy 2.0: Changing frames of media literacy (Sense/Brill, 2021), and (co-edited) The handbook of media education research (Wiley, 2021).
Bhargavi Kumaran received her bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at the Vellore Institute of Technology in Chennai, India. Her research interests are centered on the intersection of data science and social justice with a particular interest in the social determinants of health. She was a MITACS research fellowship recipient at Lakehead University in the Fall of 2022.
Miranda McKee is currently pursuing a PhD in Communication and Culture at York University. Her research examines the power of photography as a form of public pedagogy, with a particular interest in visual mis- and disinformation. She has over a decade of international experience as a curator and public program designer.
The ‘Inequalities and Media Education’ (IME) webinar series explores the relationship between media and inequalities as well as justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the (digital) media literacy and education space. The webinar series aims to ask critical questions and delve deeper into current research conducted globally to understand how scholars have studied and aimed at reducing inequalities along with ramifications for media literacy and education.
We hope to continue engaging with our community and invite hosts for future meetings and discuss a cool book, podcast, video or any media related to our interests on inequalities and media education. Please get in touch:
Jocelyn Young, Webinar Series Manager | jocelyn@mediaeducationlab.com
Devina Sarwatay, Webinar Series Manager | devina@mediaeducationlab.com