Nature abhors a vacuum, but conspiracy theorists love one. While we wait for scientists to nail down the how and why of the coronavirus, opportunists have jumped into the void, peddling DIY testing kits and fake COVID cures like colloidal silver. They’ve even cooked up full-blown conspiracy theories about a lab-grown virus. Find out why this crisis has dished up more than the usual share of misinformation and hucksterism, and how these interfere with our ability to navigate it safely.
Guests:
- Whitney Phillips - Professor of communication and rhetorical studies at Syracuse University, and author of three books, most recently You Are Here: A Field Guide for Navigating Polluted Information
- Joan Donovan - Research director at Harvard’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy
Segments (via bigpicturescience.org):
Part 1: Joan Donovan - Pandemic Opportunists
Part 2: Joan Donovan - The 5G Conspiracy
Part 3: Whitney Phillips - The Gates Gambit
Part 4: Whitney Phillips - Conspiracies Abound!