University of Georgia Students Combat Disinformation with Google Tools at What the Hackathon
Athens, GA – In the ongoing battle against misinformation, University of Georgia students recently honed their digital detective skills at the fall 2024 What the Hackathon. This event, sponsored by the What the Hack podcast and the Cox Institute, provided students with hands-on training using advanced Google tools to identify and debunk false information online. The competition challenged students to differentiate between real and fabricated online content, offering them practical experience in navigating the complex landscape of digital media. Google News Initiative trainer Debora Wenger, an associate dean and professor at the University of Mississippi, guided the students through the process, equipping them with essential fact-checking strategies.
The hackathon showcased a range of Google tools designed to combat misinformation, including the Fact Check Explorer, a powerful resource for verifying text and images. This tool, along with others, provides journalists, students, and the public with the means to critically assess the authenticity and accuracy of online information. Bob Sullivan, a veteran journalist and MSNBC.com co-founder, also shared his expertise with the students, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and countering misinformation tactics. Sullivan, the 2024 Cox Institute Industry Fellow, underscored the need for aspiring journalists to understand the strategies employed by those spreading disinformation to effectively combat its influence.
The competition fostered a dynamic learning environment where students actively applied their newfound knowledge. Teams competed to identify falsified media, utilizing the provided tools and techniques to analyze and verify online content. The winning team, comprised of Jack Culberson, Patrick Hamilton, and Sebastian Baggett, impressed judges with their proficiency in using multiple tools to uncover fabricated images. Their success highlighted the effectiveness of the training and the students’ dedication to mastering the art of fact-checking. Second place was awarded to Parker McCollum, Sydney Shankman, and Connor Joyce, further demonstrating the widespread engagement and skill development among the participants.
The student participants expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to apply classroom learning to real-world scenarios. Patrick Hamilton emphasized the value of the experience in simulating professional fact-checking activities, while Sebastian Baggett highlighted the practical application of Google’s tools. Baggett described how his team leveraged Google’s Fact Check search tool to identify a Snopes fact-check debunking an article they were analyzing, streamlining their verification process. The hackathon served as a bridge between theory and practice, empowering students with the skills and confidence to navigate the challenges of misinformation.
The What the Hackathon is a recurring event hosted by the Cox Institute, reflecting its commitment to promoting news literacy among students. This semester’s event, facilitated by Cox Institute leaders Keith Herndon, Lori Johnston, and Amanda Bright, provided students with valuable training in critical media analysis. Kyser Lough, associate journalism professor and director of the Certificate in News Literacy, emphasized the Institute’s mission to equip students with the ability to discern credible information. The Certificate in News Literacy program, open to all UGA students, focuses on developing essential skills in accessing, analyzing, verifying, and sharing media messages, with a particular focus on news.
The hackathon benefited from a partnership with the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) and the Google News Initiative, which provided free training resources to equip journalists with the latest tools and techniques for combating misinformation. This collaborative effort strengthened the event’s impact, ensuring that students received cutting-edge training from industry experts. The combination of theoretical instruction, practical application, and access to Google’s advanced tools made the What the Hackathon a valuable learning experience for aspiring journalists, preparing them to become informed and responsible consumers and creators of information in the digital age. The event underscored the importance of media literacy education in empowering individuals to navigate the complexities of online information and contribute to a more informed public discourse.