Whose Truth Is It Anyway? (A Courageous Conversation) (NY – Long Island Alliance/Crossing Party Lines Long Island)

Local Focus: Long Island, NY

In today’s fractured media landscape, the line between fact and fiction is blurrier than ever. Misinformation —falsehoods spread unknowingly—and disinformation (or Fake News when applied to journalism) —falsehoods shared with intent—travel faster than verified facts. Add conspiracy theories, which offer emotionally satisfying but often unfounded explanations, and it becomes harder to agree on what’s real. Even facts, though objective, are interpreted through the lens of differential priors—our personal histories, biases, and worldviews that shape how we process new information, which often leads to Media Bias. In a world where everyone is accusing someone else of falling for propaganda, how do we talk across divides? How do algorithms, partisan media, and selective trust reinforce alternate realities? This discussion invites all perspectives to explore how truth is constructed, contested, and—perhaps—reclaimed. Here are a few questions we might explore:

What, in your mind, is necessary to make something “a fact”?

Can you think of any things you once thought were facts but no longer think are?

Have you ever shared something online that turned out not to be true? If so, what made you believe it at the time—and how did you feel when you found out it was wrong?

Have you ever had an argument with someone where you both had your own sets of facts? Can you give an example?

Where do you go for information you can trust—and has that changed over time?

What would a healthier information ecosystem look like to you—and what role can ordinary people play in creating it?

** This event is open to the media upon approval. Send requests to press@braverangels.org