Winning Elections in the Disinformation Age with Sasha Issenberg
Jun 4, 2024
auto_awesome
Sasha Issenberg, author of 'The Lie Detectives,' dives into the world of winning campaigns in the disinformation age. Topics include combating false narratives, navigating political misinformation, managing disinformation in campaigns, and the impact of foreign manipulation. A deep dive into the challenges of disinformation in elections and insights on navigating the complex information landscape.
Voter preference is significantly influenced by primary news sources such as newspapers, national news networks, digital websites, social media, cable news, YouTube, Google, and political news engagement.
Campaign strategies shifted post-2016 towards addressing underlying voter concerns rather than reacting to individual false claims, exemplifying the importance of demand-side tactics in countering disinformation.
Ambient influence plays a crucial role in shaping political beliefs, urging the need to discern when to respond to disinformation amidst a backdrop of persistent cranks and extremist narratives.
Deep dives
Analysis of Voter Preference Based on News Sources
In a polling study discussed in the podcast, voter preference was connected to their primary news sources. Among voters relying on newspapers, Biden led by 49 points, while those relying on national news networks showed a 20-point lead. Voters getting information from digital websites favored Biden by 10 points. Notably, those following social media supported Trump by 4 points, and those tuned in to cable news leaned towards Trump by 8 points. Voters sourcing news from YouTube and Google showed Trump leading by 16 points, and those disengaged from political news favored Trump by 26 points, highlighting the influence of news sources on voter opinion.
Shift in Campaign Strategies Post-2016 Shock
Post the 2016 election shock, there was a shift in campaign strategies to tackle disinformation. Rather than focusing on supply-side tactics like reacting to individual false claims, the approach shifted to a demand-side perspective targeting underlying voter concerns. An example included countering age-related insinuations about Biden not with physical displays of strength but with unedited videos of him discussing policy to address doubts about his autonomy. This strategic shift aimed to address core voter anxieties effectively.
Understanding the Evolving Information Atmosphere
The discussion delves into the evolving information atmosphere and the role of ambient influence on shaping political beliefs. Emphasis is placed on being aware of the ambient disinformation prevalent in online spaces that influence partisan affiliations and ideological formations. The challenge lies in discerning when to respond to disinformation amidst a background of persistent cranks and amplified extremist narratives.
Navigating Foreign Manipulation in Digital Age
The podcast explores the nuanced perspective on foreign manipulation in the digital age. While there is a heightened concern about foreign interference, especially post-2016, the overarching advice is to prioritize the impact of disinformation over its origin. Differentiating between national security and electoral influence is key, with a focus on the audience's susceptibility to disinformation regardless of its source.
Addressing Disinformation Through Basic Communication Strategies
An overarching theme resonates around employing basic communication strategies to counter disinformation effectively. Despite the allure of high-tech solutions and AI advancements, the core of combating disinformation lies in addressing audience susceptibilities and deep-seated anxieties. Lessons from vaccine misinformation and low-tech disinformation campaigns underscore the importance of understanding audience receptivity over technological sophistication.
One of the most pressing challenges for candidates and campaigns today is how to win in a world where disinformation is so pervasive. Why is the information environment in this election year so hard to parse? Our guest this week has written about the keys to winning campaigns for more than a decade. Sasha Issenberg is a journalist and author of numerous books including his latest, “The Lie Detectives: In Search of a Playbook for Winning Elections in the Disinformation Age.” He joins WITHpod to discuss the often insidious nature of disinformation, work to curtail its spread, how we can make sense of a world awash in lies and more.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode