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Dear Reader, In our special report on confronting misinformation, senior features editor Jen Schwartz shows how destructive—and exhausting—media manipulation can be. As the world continues to grapple with the pandemic and the U.S. faces a high-stakes election season, how can society be less fragile to fear, lies, and division?   Schwartz and other journalists participated in an Election Day simulation meant to prepare them for reporting the news during a season of chaos. Instead of operating like a typical reporter, she chose to take on the identity of a disinformation agent.   “Playing the bad guy showed me how the design of platforms is geared toward controlling minds, not expanding them,” Schwartz said. “I’d known this, but now I felt why journalism couldn’t compete against influence operations on the high-speed battlefield of social media—by taking up the same arms as the outrage machine, we would become them.” Read some of her expert reporting on how society is adapting (or not) to a rapidly changing world:   • When a Journalist Becomes a Disinformation Agent   • Reckoning with Our Mistakes   • Truth, Lies & Uncertainty   • Everyone Is an Agent in the New Information Warfare   • Surrendering to Rising Seas • Why People Refuse to Believe Scientists Amid the uncertainty, our truthful reporting will help keep you informed on all of the latest scientific research and developments. Save 25% on a Print & Digital or a Print & Full Archive subscription today. Learn More.

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