Oct 22, 2019

Social Science Research Council (SSRC);

Disinformation, misinformation, and "fake news" are longstanding phenomena that, in the wake of the digital revolution, have become newly politicized and consequential. Citizens around the world have instant access to a vast variety of information - some of which is purposely misleading or manufactured for political ends. The known uses of disinformation include coordinated campaigns aimed at influencing elections and undermining democratic processes. In response to these developments, new research on mis- and disinformation is rapidly emerging from a range of academic disciplines.MediaWell is an initiative of the Social Science Research Council that seeks to track and curate that research. As a respected, nonpartisan, and cross-disciplinary organization, the SSRC is uniquely placed to help consolidate an expanding scholarly literature that originates in multiple, partially overlapping fields. As part of this initiative, MediaWell summarizes research findings, identifies gaps in scholarship, contributes to policy decisions, and translates academic knowledge for a broad audience of scholars, journalists, and interested citizens.