Michigan Voters Group Fights Disinformation – 95.3 MNC

With the 2024 presidential election approaching, the nonpartisan Michigan League of Women Voters is stepping up its efforts to combat disinformation through its Democracy Truth Project.

The goal of the initiative is to equip people with the tools necessary to evaluate media content. The league has partnered with the Detroit Public Library to distribute educational resources through various platforms, including social media.

Paula Bowman, co-chair of the Michigan League of Women Voters, said the group wants to get people to look critically at certain media outlets.

“And know that not everything you see in print is true and correct. You have to know the source and maybe change the source to verify that information,” Bowman said.

Bowman said the rise of AI-generated content has significantly increased uncertainty about what we read or hear, and that it is more important than ever for people to return to trusted sources.

Bowman thanked the local Detroit League of Women Voters for its partnership with the Detroit Public Library. She said the library will broadcast monthly programs on various election topics.

Jennifer Dye, chief librarian at the Detroit Public Library, said the partnership with the league makes sense.

“We both work to educate the community. Essentially, we try to educate people to be good citizens,” Dye said.

Bowman emphasized that people do not have to live in the city of Detroit to have access to this information.

“Anyone can sign up for these videos. And all the older ones that were previously recorded are on their website so they can be accessed at any time,” she continued.

Bowman added that the league has also brought together experts to educate the public on issues on which the league does not necessarily have a strong position, such as ranked choice voting, which allows voters to rank candidates according to their preferences.​