Navigating Misinformation in the Digital Age: A Conversation with Experts at SXSW 2025

Joshua Colliluori
SXSX 2025 - SJMC Student Media Coverage

(The following content is a preview of a SXSW 2025 panel from a member of the SXSW Content Team, a group of 26 SJMC students who will partner with SXSW marketing professionals to cover the event from March 7-15. This is the 10th year of this collaboration between SJMC students and SXSW.)

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to shape the media landscape, distinguishing fact from fiction has never been more crucial. The proliferation of AI-generated misinformation is a growing concern for news consumers, with a new report from Statista revealing that only 23% of Americans are confident in their ability to identify fake news.

"Generative AI can play a role in creating more misinformation and
disinformation, further polluting the information ecosystem," said Sarah Brandt, vice president of partnerships at NewsGuard Technologies. "AI chatbots and large language models are themselves contributing to the spread of false information."

The need for responsible information consumption is pressing, especially as a recent Pew Research study found 86% of U.S. adults get their news from smartphones. Social media usage for news consumption has grown by 6%, while traditional news websites saw a 3% decline from 2020 to 2024. Moreover, 23% of young Americans are now using tools like ChatGPT for work-related tasks, highlighting the increasing integration of AI in daily life.

As newsrooms continue to shrink, it’s essential to find a balance between human journalism and AI technology to combat misinformation effectively. Brandt emphasizes that the key is to clearly define which tasks can be automated and which require human oversight.

"What needs to be done is a clear delineation of which tasks can be automated responsibly versus what needs to still be done by humans," Brandt said.

At SXSW 2025, Brandt will be joined by an expert panel to dive deeper into these issues. The session, "News in the Digital Age: Distinguishing Fact from Fiction," will provide attendees with the tools and knowledge to navigate the ever-evolving media landscape.

Panelists

  • Sarah Brandt: vice president of partnerships, NewsGuard Technologies
  • Sally Lehrman: founder, The Trust Project
  • Naomi Nix: social media journalist, The Washington Post
  • Marianna Spring: disinformation and social media correspondent, BBC
     

Session Overview

The panel will explore critical topics such as:

  • The evolving role of AI in news production and its impact on trust
  • How to distinguish reliable journalism from misinformation and false narratives
  • The role of social media in shaping news consumption habits
  • The collaboration between AI and human journalists in today’s newsroom
     

Session Details

  • Title: News in the Digital Age: Distinguishing Fact from Fiction
  • Date: March 8, 2025
  • Time: 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Central Time
  • Location: Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon K
     

Join Brandt and other thought leaders at SXSW 2025 to gain practical insights into how we can all become more discerning news consumers in the digital age. The session will offer attendees a unique opportunity to hear from experts working at the intersection of journalism, technology and misinformation.