(Dis)information Competency Series

Introduction to Information Disorder

Friday 10/14/2022, 12:30-1:30 Zoom

We are thrilled to have Hailey Mooney kick off the series with a keynote lecture about information disorder, a holistic concept encompassing current trends in (dis)information that has gained increasing traction since it was first introduced in a 2017 Council of Europe report. Components of information disorder include how disinformation and other forms of information pollution are defined, produced, interpreted, and distributed. We'll take a broad look at the network of inter-related hot-button issues that stem from information disorder including moral panics, narrative control, propaganda, and censorship. The information disorder framework helps to map this contested terrain and consider ways that we can engage with information competency issues, such as trust and critical evaluation, in our own learning and teaching.

Hailey Mooney developed and teaches an original professional development course for librarians on the Sociology of Information Disorder and Fake News at Library Juice Academy. She first created and instructed her course on the Sociology of Fake News for the Department of Sociology at the University of Michigan. Hailey has over a decade of experience working as a librarian within the Michigan Research Libraries Triangle at Wayne State University, Michigan State University, and the University of Michigan. She has held roles in reference, data services, and as a subject specialist in the social sciences; most recently for psychology and sociology. Her scholarly work and research interests are currently focused on issues in fake news and information literacy, and previously concentrated on data-related scholarly communication practices. Hailey has a Master of Library and Information Science from Wayne State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Michigan. 

Sign-up on the Vision Resource Center (VRC): VRC Registration Link

Closed captioning will be provided.

This report provides a new framework for policy-makers, legislators, researchers, technologists and practitioners working on the theoretical and practical challenges related to mis-, dis- and mal-information — the three elements of information disorder. While the historical impact of rumours and fabricated content have been well documented, the complexity and scale of information pollution in our digitally-connected, increasingly polarised world presents an unprecedented challenge. There is an immediate need to work collaboratively on workable solutions and this report provides a framework for the different stakeholders involved in research, policy discussions, and technical innovations connected to this phenomenon of information disorder.

Citation: Wardle, Claire & Derakhshan, Hossein. (2017). Information Disorder: Toward an interdisciplinary framework for research and policy making.  Council of Europe. Brussels: Council of Europe. 

Mooney, H. (2019). Sociology of information disorder: An annotated syllabus for informed citizens. In A. P. Baer, E. S. Cahoy, & R. Schroeder (Eds.), Libraries promoting reflective dialogue in a time of political polarization (pp. 113–147). Chicago: Association of College and Research Libraries.