Noise vs News
How to recognize trustworthy information online and off.
The March 2026 party primary elections and November 2026 general election are close at hand. We will once again be inundated with advertisements, articles, and social media posts supporting and in opposing to issues and candidates. Voters need reliable information to make decisions. We all want to be informed and educated voters, but can we trust everything that comes to our eyes and ears? So much depends on knowing what to look for and what to avoid.
A diverse group of Braver Angels Central Texas members have been hard at work designing a monthly series of presentations to help us wade through the noise in hopes of finding the worthy news. Here is what is in store:
Deepfake Technology with Dr. Dale Blasingame; November 18, 2025
News aggregation with Sam Laber; February 4, 2026
Bias in the News with Joanne Richards; March 30, 2026
Social media: Is it toxic or beneficial with Josh Kline; April date TBD
What is Substack? Presenter and May date TBD
History of freedom of the press with Dorsey Cartwright; June date TBD
Come join us!
A diverse group of Braver Angels Central Texas members have been hard at work designing a monthly series of presentations to help us wade through the noise in hopes of finding the worthy news. Here is what is in store:
Deepfake Technology with Dr. Dale Blasingame; November 18, 2025
News aggregation with Sam Laber; February 4, 2026
Bias in the News with Joanne Richards; March 30, 2026
Social media: Is it toxic or beneficial with Josh Kline; April date TBD
What is Substack? Presenter and May date TBD
History of freedom of the press with Dorsey Cartwright; June date TBD
Come join us!
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November 18, 2025
"TRUTH IN THE AGE OF AI: How AI systems generate realistic content and ways individuals can assess authenticity online." presented by Dale Blasingame, an associate professor of practice in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. Blassingame concludes that it is very difficult to judge "fakes" and it is only getting harder. The way to combat the problem is to become media literate. Blassingame says media literacy skills training should start with young children. MEDIA LITERACY RESOURCES |
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February 4, 2026
"THE EVOLUTION OF NEWS AGGREGATORS" presented by Sam Laber, founder of Pano News "In a world where news never stops, staying informed has become both easier and more overwhelming. Every day, hundreds of stories break across countless outlets, social media platforms, and blogs—and each one frames events differently. For the average reader, the sheer volume isn't just paralyzing; it makes understanding bias and separating signal from noise nearly impossible. That's where news aggregators come in. By pulling sources from across the political spectrum into one place, they help you see the full picture: what's being covered, what's being ignored, and how narratives diverge depending on the source. In this talk, Laber traces how news aggregators evolved to meet this challenge, explains what separates the best from the rest, and shares strategies for building a news routine that keeps you informed without overwhelming you." |
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Tackling Bias presented by Joanne Richards, Co-chair of Braver Angels Central Texas
Monday, March 30th from 7:30 to 8:45 on Zoom. In "Tackling Bias," we examine the perspectives and preconceptions each of us brings to the way we evaluate news. Our individual backgrounds and life experiences can subtly or overtly shape how we interpret and analyze information from various sources. We also assess the perceived biases of a wide range of news organizations, including who provides these evaluations and the potential influences behind them. The program explores how news sources use headlines, story wording, and imagery to influence our judgments. Finally, the participants discussed their thoughts and experiences on how they “tackle bias” in their own news consumption. |