Working with Volunteers, Constituents, and Community Partners

Productive conversations about disinformation are based in trust.

There are many ways to build and maintain trust. Try to listen to understand, not to respond. Repeat concerns back to them while you talk — this shows that you are paying attention, and helps avoid simple misunderstandings. You should also ask questions to get to the root of people’s concerns. Demonstrate that you are interested in understanding their perspectives and connecting on common values!

Express empathy.

Conversations about voting and disinformation are emotionally charged, as they’re tied to our values and beliefs. Plus, no one likes to feel like they’ve been tricked. That’s why its so important to validate emotions and respond to what people say without judgment. As Dr. Edelman said in a previous module, we aren’t fools, we’re just being fooled at times by really advanced technology and strategy. Avoid making assumptions, and connect on shared values, like safe and secure elections and democracy.

Share correct information and trusted sources.

Fact checking will be most effective if it is a collaborative process. Guide people to trusted sources of information, but don’t tell them what to think. Ask for permission (Ex. “Do you mind if I show you how I verify election news?”) and share your own experiences.

Be patient, and know when to walk away.

Debunking disinformation is often not a quick and easy process, and even when you try your best to be calm empathetic, sometimes these conversations can become combative and unproductive. You can always disengage from a conversation that’s gone south and circle back when things have calmed down. Remember that while you won’t always convince someone that a specific claim is false, you are likely encouraging them to think more critically in general just by having the conversation!