Jeff Stoffer, Director of Media and Communications Division of the American Legion, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the spread of misinformation, youth media literacy education and the American Battle Monuments Commission’s 100th anniversary.
He discussed an article by Alan Greenblatt that called the growing spread of misinformation and deep fakes one of the biggest threats to the nation. From claims of police officers getting sick from airborne fentanyl to the increase in false news stories on social media, Stoffer explained how Americans now fear falling victim to misinformation and disinformation. Many Americans do not trust national news sources, with nearly 73 percent of them calling it a major problem.
He then spoke about how the spread of misinformation is combated throughout the rest of the world. For example, in Finland officials now require the younger generation to take a media literacy course. Their goal is to teach kids how to identify deep fake videos and audio clips. If it sounds too good to be true, or too weird to have happened, it is possibly a fake.
Stoffer also talked about the 100th anniversary celebration of the American Battle Monuments Commission. The ABMC operates and maintains 26 permanent American burial grounds and 32 additional separate memorials and monuments on five continents. Perhaps the most well-known American Cemetery and Memorial is located in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. Each year on June 6, the American Legion participates in a yearly D-Day remembrance in the Normandy American Cemetery.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more.