FAKE NEWS: What is it? Hows does it affect democracy? How do we avoid it?

Please join us for what promises to be a timely forum on an issue of importance to us as citizens of a democracy. When: Thursday, March 9th, at 1:00pm Where: ACC Littleton Campus Library on the 2nd floor of the Main Building. The format for the event is informal. Our three speakers will provide brief comments on the issue followed by a Q and A for the remainder of the session.

First, Mr. Vincent Carroll will discuss fake news from a journalist’s perspective. Mr. Carroll has been writing commentary on public policy and politics in Colorado for 35 years, after several reporting and editing stints in other states. He was editorial page editor at the Rocky Mountain News for many years until that newspaper’s demise in 2009, when he moved to The Denver Post. When Mr. Carroll retired from full-time journalism in 2016, he was editorial page editor of The Post. He continues to write columns for the paper. Mr. Carroll is the recipient of many writing awards for editorials and columns, as well as a 2014 inductee into the Denver Press Club Hall of Fame.

Next, Mr. Ted Belteau will discuss the impact of fake news on a flourishing democracy.  Mr. Belteau has been an educator for 30 years and is currently an Educational Consultant and a member of the ACLU Speakers’ Bureau. He sees the world as a place that must be safeguarded for future generations and believes strongly that the similarities shared by all members of our society are much stronger than the differences that some use to separate us. Mr. Belteau’s philosophy is quite simple: “love all, serve all.”

The third panelist is our own Ann Priestman, Head Reference and Archives Librarian here at ACC. Ms. Priestman will share tips for becoming a more discerning reader in an era of incredibly inaccurate, widely disseminated, “news.” Finally, there will be ample time for you, our guests, to ask questions and share your observations. Please join us as we investigate “fake news.”