[Commlist] True Costs of Misinformation at the Harvard Shorenstein Center: Call for Participants

True Costs of Misinformation
Shorenstein Center Workshop
Call for Participants

What are the financial, social, and human costs of misinformation? What 
is the price that businesses, hospitals, civil society groups, and 
schools pay for false or misleading information online? How can 
researchers support public officials and especially the communities 
targeted by disinformation campaigns when costing out “fake news funds” 
and building capacity for digital resilience? Can we put a price tag on 
misinformation, and if so, how, and who is responsible for paying it?

This workshop invites academics, journalists, civil society actors, and 
private industry leaders to engage with these questions in order to 
understand the true costsof misinformation, and in doing so, better 
inform policies on internet governance, private sector regulation, and 
technological innovation. We aim to expand the terms of debate in 
disinformation studies and bring communication and digital politics 
scholars in conversation with economists, climate change modeling 
experts, humanitarian and human rights workers, and public health 
scholars. By bringing together experts in adjacent fields developing 
impact assessment models, crisis response frameworks, auditing tools, 
and accountability guidelines and mechanisms, this event explores novel 
and creative explanatory models to study the impacts of misinformation 
and advances a “whole-of-society approach” (Donovan et al 2021).

At the same time, this workshop invites critical inquiry into 
methodology: what can qualitative researchers and ethnographers learn 
from quantitative scholars and risk analysts when attempting to measure 
impacts, effects, harms, and unintended consequences of mis- and 
disinformation? Crucially, we aim to have reflexive debate around the 
politics and ethics of measurement and funding: what are the 
opportunities and risks when developing precise metrics, and how do we 
recognize distortions and power asymmetries in who and what get to be 
counted (Krause 2014; Madianou et al 2019)? When understanding 
misinformation impacts, how can we nuance existing models of media 
effects that takes into consideration audience agency and accountability 
in sharing misinformation (Chadwick & Vaccari 2019; Madrid-Morales et al 
2021; Tandoc et al 2019)?

At the Shorenstein Center, we host workshops that bring researchers in 
conversation with policymakers, journalists and community organizers. 
This is a unique opportunity to present current research, have lively 
debate about new or speculative frameworks, and explore collaborations.

Two tracks are available for participants: 1) The Presenter Track 
invites those who have current or future research on related themes. 
They will be assigned to panels (where they present for 15 minutes) or 
roundtables (where they present short opening statements before dynamic 
Q&A) 2) The Respondent Track invites those with research or practical 
experience related to the topic and will be expected to prepare 
questions and responses to the Presenters. As with other workshops, 
there will be opportunities for networking and mentoring.

Relevant paper topics for this conference include, but are not limited 
to, the following:
●Climate change research meets disinformation studies: what can 
disinformation studies learn from climate change impact assessment 
models? What are the “costs of inaction” to a healthy information 
environment?

●Economics of disinformation: how are financial markets affected by fake 
news? Does fake news lead to economic insecurity? How can we put a price 
tag on opportunity costs? What are the financial costs to businesses 
(Cavazos 2019)?

●Media “effects” of fake news events to public perceptions and 
attitudes: What are case studies that illustrate causal impacts? What 
are the opportunities and risks of “bringing back” Effects Tradition 
frameworks to political communication studies (Anderson 2021)?

●Casualties of fake news: counting the dead, costs of war and conflict 
(Crawford 2019), the politics of grievability (Butler 2016) and the 
differential value of communities harmed by disinformation enabled by 
platforms (Tworek 2021)

●Disinformation-for-profit: ad fraud, ad tech (Braun & Eklund 2019), 
cyberscams, pyramid schemes, disinformation strategists, entrepreneurs, 
and paid troll armies around the world (Ong & Cabanes 2019)

●Fake news-busting in global context: opportunities and risks of 
interventions such as fact-checking, media freedom and media literacy 
campaigns (Udupa 2019)

●Targeted harassment: journalists and human rights workers facing death 
threats and cyberattacks; organizational resilience, cybersecurity and 
mental health support for workers (Ong et al 2021); racially targeted 
misinformation (Collins-Dexter 2020; Reddi et al 2021)

●The politics of philanthropy and global aid: global inequalities in the 
development and aid sector, the critique of donor-driven accountability 
(Scott et al 2017), nationalist smear campaigns against international 
agencies / donors

●The ethics of measurement: ethical questions of putting monetary value 
to the emotional and mental health costs of being targeted by 
disinformation campaigns

EVENT INFORMATION
This is a two-day in-person event in Cambridge, MA from March 9 to 10, 
2022. We will make any adjustments to the in-person format by December 
30, 2021, based on CDC guidelines and community recommendations.

Day one will feature an opening presentation by the True Costs project 
team and a panel led by Yves Daccord, former director-general of the 
International Committee of the Red Cross. Day Two will have three panels 
/ roundtables and networking opportunities.

This event launches the True Costs of Misinformation Research Network. 
For interested academic participants, the planned output of the event 
includes a journal special issue.

HOW TO APPLY

You may apply as Presenter or Respondent, or you can select “Either”.

Presenters are expected to submit a paper title and abstract of 350 to 
500 words describing your research and intellectual position, 
methodological approach, and (expected) results.

Respondents are invited to submit a 300 word description of how your 
expertise and experience makes you a relevant participant.

Those who select “Either” should simply submit their paper title and 
abstract and will be considered for participation in the workshop even 
if their paper is not selected.

We offer limited travel funding support, reserved for junior scholars. 
Kindly indicate in your submission if you might need any travel support.

APPLY HERE: 
https://shorensteincenter.org/true-costs-misinformation-workshop-call-participants/ 
<https://shorensteincenter.org/true-costs-misinformation-workshop-call-participants/> 



KEY DATES

Application Deadline: December 15, 2021

Selection Notification: December 30, 2021

Workshop Dates: March 9 to 10, 2022

Questions? Email (jcong /at/ hks.harvard.edu) <mailto:(jcong /at/ hks.harvard.edu)>


CREDITS

The True Costs of Misinformation team of the Technology and Social 
Change Project at the Shorenstein Center is composed of Dr Joan Donovan, 
Dr Jonathan Corpus Ong, Dr Rob Faris, Dr Alexei Sisulu Abrahams, 
Jennifer Preston and Gabrielle Lim. More information can be found at 
https://shorensteincenter.org/programs/technology-social-change/ 
<https://shorensteincenter.org/programs/technology-social-change/>


REFERENCES

Anderson, C.W. (2021). Fake News Is Not a Virus. Communication Theory 
31(1): 42-61.

Braun, J. & Ekland, J. (2019). Fake News, Real Money: Ad-Tech Platforms, 
Profit-Driven Hoaxes and the Business of Journalism. Digital 
Journalism7(1):1-21.

Butler, J. (2016). Frames of War: When Is Life Grievable?London: Verso.

Cavazos, A. (2019). The Economic Cost of Bad Actors on the Internet. 
CHEQ / University of Baltimore. 
https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mediapost.com/uploads/EconomicCostOfFakeNews.pdf 
<https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mediapost.com/uploads/EconomicCostOfFakeNews.pdf>

Chadwick, A. & Vaccari, S. (2019). News Sharing on UK Social Media: 
Misinformation, Disinformation, and Correction. Loughborough: Online 
Civic Culture Centre, Loughborough University.

Collins-Dexter, B. (2020). Canaries in the Coal Mine: Covid-19 
Misinformation and Black Communities. Media Manipulation Project. 
Shorenstein Center. Harvard Kennedy School. 
https://shorensteincenter.org/canaries-in-the-coal-mine/ 
<https://shorensteincenter.org/canaries-in-the-coal-mine/>

Crawford, N. (2019). Accountability for Killing: Moral Responsibility 
for Collateral Damage in America’s Post-9/11 Wars.Oxford: Oxford 
University Press.

Donovan, J, Friedberg, B, Lim, G., Leaver, N., Nilsen, J., Dreyfuss, E. 
(2021). Mitigating Medical Misinformation: A Whole-of-Society Approach 
to Countering Spam, Scams and Hoaxes. Media Manipulation Project. 
Shorenstein Center. Harvard Kennedy School. 
https://mediamanipulation.org/research/mitigating-medical-misinformation-whole-society-approach-countering-spam-scams-and-hoaxes 
<https://mediamanipulation.org/research/mitigating-medical-misinformation-whole-society-approach-countering-spam-scams-and-hoaxes>

Feldstein, S. (2021). The Rise of Digital Repression: How Technology is 
Reshaping Power, Politics, and Resistance. Washington, DC: Carnegie 
Endowment for International Peace Series.

Krause, M. (2014). The Good Project: Humanitarian NGOs and the 
Fragmentation of Reason. Chicago: Chicago University Press.

Madianou, M., Ong, J.C., Longboan, L. & Cornelio, J. The Appearance of 
Accountability: Communication Technologies and Power Asymmetries in 
Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Recovery. Journal of Communication, 66(6): 
960-981.

Madrid-Morales, D., Wasserman, H., Gondwe, G., Ndlovu, E., Sikanku, E., 
Tully, L., Umejei, E, & Uzuegbunam, C. (2021). Motivations for Sharing 
Misinformation: A Comparative Study of Six Sub-Saharan African 
Countries.International Journal of Communication15: 1200-1219.

Ong, J.C. & Cabanes, J.V. (2019). “When Disinformation Studies Meets 
Production Studies: Social Identities and Moral Justifications in the 
Political Trolling Industry.” International Journal of Communication13: 
5771-5790.

Ong, J.C., Tintiangko, J. & Fallorina, R. (2021). "Human Rights in 
Survival Mode: Developing New Narratives and Supporting Creative Workers 
in the Philippines". Media Manipulation Project. Shorenstein Center. 
Harvard Kennedy School. 
https://mediamanipulation.org/research/human-rights-survival-mode-rebuilding-trust-and-supporting-digital-workers-philippines 
<https://mediamanipulation.org/research/human-rights-survival-mode-rebuilding-trust-and-supporting-digital-workers-philippines?fbclid=IwAR2QBe8e8g-4Wk93YMtdyD6naS0_zNbPWvbCj4f3jx0GT29wj5bfhtn5B9U>

Reddi, M., Kreiss, D. & Kuo, R. (2021). Identity Propaganda: Racial 
Narratives and Disinformation. New Media & Society.Online First July 17.

Scott, M., Bunce, M. & Wright, K. (2017). Donor Power and the News: The 
Influence of Foundation Funding on International Public Service 
Journalism. The International Journal of Press/ Politics 22(2):163-184.

Tandoc, E., Lim, D. & Ling, R. (2019). Diffusion of Disinformation: How 
Social Media Users Respond to Fake News and Why. Journalism21(3):381-398.

Tworek, H. (2021, 4 October). Facebook’s America-centrism Is Now Plain 
for All to See. Center for International Governance Innovation. 
https://www.cigionline.org/articles/facebooks-america-centrism-is-now-plain-for-all-to-see/ 
<https://www.cigionline.org/articles/facebooks-america-centrism-is-now-plain-for-all-to-see/>

Udupa, S. (2019, 26 January). India Needs a Fresh Strategy to Tackle 
Online Extreme Speech. Engage.

https://www.epw.in/engage/article/election-2019-india-needs-fresh-strategy-to-tackle-new-digital-tools 
<https://www.epw.in/engage/article/election-2019-india-needs-fresh-strategy-to-tackle-new-digital-tools>

=====
*Jonathan Corpus Ong, PhD*
*
*
*Associate Professor of Global Digital Media*
*University of Massachusetts Amherst*
*
*
*Shorenstein Center Fellow 2020-2022*
*Harvard Kennedy School*
*
*
*Webpage: _https://www.umass.edu/communication/node/1525 
<https://www.umass.edu/communication/node/1525>_
Twitter: @jonathan_c_ong*
*
*
*Recent Articles:*
*1. Human Rights in Survival Mode. Shorenstein Center. 
**https://mediamanipulation.org/research/human-rights-survival-mode-rebuilding-trust-and-supporting-digital-workers-philippines 
<https://mediamanipulation.org/research/human-rights-survival-mode-rebuilding-trust-and-supporting-digital-workers-philippines> 
*
*
*
*2. The Contagion of Stigmatization: Racism and Discrimination in the 
Infodemic Moment. SSRC MediaWell. 
**https://mediawell.ssrc.org/literature-reviews/the-contagion-of-stigmatization-racism-and-discrimination-in-the-infodemic-moment/versions/1-0/ 
<https://mediawell.ssrc.org/literature-reviews/the-contagion-of-stigmatization-racism-and-discrimination-in-the-infodemic-moment/versions/1-0/> 
*
*
*
*3. Southeast Asia’s Disinformation Crisis: Where Regulation Is a Bad 
Word. SSRC - Items. 
**_https://items.ssrc.org/disinformation-democracy-and-conflict-prevention/southeast-asias-disinformation-crisis-where-the-state-is-the-biggest-bad-actor-and-regulation-is-a-bad-word/ 
<https://items.ssrc.org/disinformation-democracy-and-conflict-prevention/southeast-asias-disinformation-crisis-where-the-state-is-the-biggest-bad-actor-and-regulation-is-a-bad-word/>_*

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