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How can we function as a society if we can’t agree on facts?
It’s a question posed as part of the ABC documentary The Matter of Facts, which will be explored at a free Warrnambool Library workshop on Saturday June 6.
Presented by award-winning journalist and author Matt Neal, the session will examine how false or misleading information moves through our digital networks, what happens when trust in facts erodes, and how this can affect individuals, communities and democracy.
With over 25 years’ experience working in South West media, Mr Neal said the media landscape had shifted drastically over that time.
“The news cycle spins faster now than it ever has, and when you have social media on top of that, and then AI, people have every right to feel confused about what’s going on in the world, who to believe and who to trust,” he said.
“Echo chambers are a really big issue, social media algorithms are a big issue with what they are feeding us and why they are feeding it to us.
“Attention spans, distraction levels, the number of things vying for our attention… All of this makes life and understanding the world so much harder.
“We have every piece of information we could ever want at our fingertips, but part of the problem is that we have every piece of information at our fingertips.”
He said that despite these challenges, there were practical steps people could take to keep themselves better informed.
“Part of this workshop is to give people some hope and to be able to take some control over what is being put in front of them,” he said.
“I hope that people can come away from this with a better idea of how social media works, how the media works, and some critical thinking and media literacy skills to go with that.
“We want to give people the power back to cut through the noise.”
He said Warrnambool Library was an ideal venue for the conversation.
“Libraries are such an important part of society. We are so lucky in Warrnambool that we have an incredible library and I think every society should value their library because they are holders of so much knowledge,” he said.
“The more you read, the better a person you become. You learn empathy from reading, you gain knowledge, you gain wisdom, and all that knowledge can be found in libraries.”
Warrnambool Library and Learning Centre Service Manager Janetta Mascilongo said the event demonstrated the role libraries play in encouraging conversations and critical thinking.
“Libraries have always helped people access information, but as the world becomes increasingly complex, libraries are also there to help people make sense of it,” she said.
“This workshop is a great opportunity for people to build confidence in navigating the information they encounter every day.
“As well as being an incredibly talented writer, Matt is an engaging conversationalist with a wealth of media knowledge, so he’s the perfect guide for anyone looking to navigate today’s complex media landscape.”
The Matter of Facts is on Saturday June 6 at 10.30am.
The event is presented by the Australian Library and Information Association and Western Sydney University, in partnership with the ABC and Warrnambool Library.
While the event is free to attend, bookings are required. To reserve your place visit library.warrnambool.vic.gov.au or contact the Warrnambool Library.