The School of Journalism and Strategic Media will host Daniel Petty, the ProPublica director of audience strategy, for training sessions on using digital tools to detect election misinformation and disinformation.

The sessions, on this Thursday, Aug. 29, are part of the Radio Television Digital News Association's training series with Google News Initiative, designed to equip journalists and media professionals with cutting-edge skills to ensure the integrity of election coverage. 

"We are thrilled to launch this training series at a time when the role of journalists in providing accurate and timely election coverage has never been more crucial," said Dan Shelley, president and CEO of the association announcing the training. "By equipping journalists with the latest digital tools and techniques, we aim to elevate the quality of election reporting and improve civic discourse."

Petty's campus schedule will include events open to all students and faculty, as well as local reporters and the public.

"Journalists in our award-winning campus news outlets will be covering local, state and national elections this fall, and this specialized training enhances what they are learning in the classroom,'' said Gina Holland Shelton, interim director of the journalism school's Center for Media Ethics and Literacy.

The center has arranged a day of training, starting with a public session from 9:30-10:45 a.m. in Kimpel Hall 305. Contact Kaslyn Tidmore, tidmore@uark.edu, to reserve a seat.

A Q&A lunch with Petty will be held, followed by training sessions for journalism students starting at at 12:30 p.m. in Kimpel 103.

At ProPublica, Petty focuses on helping the organization's reporting reach wide, loyal and diverse audiences. He previously worked for MediaNews Group and the Denver Post. He has consulted for news organizations in Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka on behalf of the International Center for Journalists and the U.S. State Department.

"More than 200 U of A students and faculty will receive critical training — at a critical time,'' Shelton said. "The rise of election disinformation is distressing, and our students, faculty and graduates need tools to confront it.''

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About the School of Journalism and Strategic Media: The School of Journalism and Strategic Media at the University of Arkansas offers full-time and part-time degree programs for undergraduates as well as a graduate master's degree program. SJSM students major in journalism or advertising and public relations, and they receive instruction, guidance and access to hands-on experience from seasoned, award-winning faculty and staff. The school is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research and media literacy. The journalism program was established at the University of Arkansas by Walter J. Lemke in 1930. Visit the school's website for more information.

About RTDNA: The Radio Television Digital News Association is the world's largest professional organization devoted exclusively to broadcast and digital journalism. Founded as a grassroots organization in 1946, the association's mission is to promote and protect responsible journalism. The association defends the First Amendment rights of electronic journalists throughout the country, honors outstanding work in the profession through the Edward R. Murrow Awards and provides members with training to encourage ethical standards, newsroom leadership and industry innovation.

About the Google News Initiative: The Google News Initiative works side-by-side with publishers and journalists to build a more sustainable, diverse and innovative news ecosystem. The Google News Initiative offers training, products and funding to journalists and newsrooms to help strengthen their work in the digital age, working to bring together industry leaders around the world, cultivating a diverse news community to spur innovation and tackle pressing issues like media literacy and misinformation.