Abstract

As part of the ESRC Social Science Festival 2018, this event will engage the public in discussion and debate about journalistic objectivity in traditional and social media. The aim is to raise public awareness of the techniques used by the media in order to condition public opinion, particularly with respect to war, so that citizens might make better informed judgments about the news they consume.

The event will be centred on the topical concept of 'fake news' and will explore how that concept is being used to legitimise censorship. Attention will be drawn to the online censorship campaign currently being waged by Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Wikipedia. The media's role in legitimising US/UK military intervention in Syria will be explored, as will attempts by mainstream news sources to close down any challenge to the official narrative. The case of Julian Assange and its implications for free speech and liberal values will be discussed and debated.

There will be four 45-minute sessions, each beginning on the hour, with a 15-minute interval between each session. Where possible, members of the public are asked to arrive or leave during the intervals so as to mimimise disruption. The speaker will talk for the first part of each session, then there will be an opportunity for audience members to ask questions, make comments, and further the discussion. The public's voice will be very important to this event, which seeks to uphold the principle of free speech. Admission is free, and teas, coffees and pastries will provided during the intervals.