ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (March 31, 2025) — Poynter, a global leader in journalism, is bringing together experts to address one of today’s most pressing questions: Can you trust what you read online?
This important Community Conversation, “The Future of Facts Online,” takes place May 6 at the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg. The event will examine the growing challenges to online trust, including the rise of AI-driven content, the rejection of fact-checking by social media platforms and the financial incentives shaping the information audiences encounter.
Three leading experts in journalism, AI, and fact-checking will discuss how these factors are influencing public understanding and what steps the public can take to navigate the digital information landscape responsibly.
Panelists Include:
- Drew Harwell, reporter, The Washington Post – Covering artificial intelligence and the tech industry, Harwell has reported extensively on the role of AI in content creation, privacy concerns and its impact on public discourse.
- Alex Mahadevan, director of MediaWise – Leading Poynter’s digital media literacy initiative, Mahadevan is an expert on AI and specializes in equipping the public—particularly young people and older adults—with the tools to spot misinformation and critically assess online content.
- Katie Sanders, editor-in-chief of PolitiFact – Overseeing one of the nation’s most respected fact-checking organizations, Sanders plays a key role in holding politicians, public figures and viral claims accountable through rigorous, evidence-based reporting.
Following the panel discussion, attendees can participate in a live Q&A to explore topics raised by the experts, share their perspectives and learn about practical tools for evaluating online content.
The $50 ticket includes admission to a pre-event reception at 6 p.m., where guests can enjoy beverages and light appetizers. The main program, featuring the panel discussion and audience Q&A, will take place from 7-8 p.m. Poynter is located at 801 Third St. S in St. Petersburg.
Tickets are available on the Poynter site.
Those interested in sponsoring this event can call Deborah Read at (727) 371-0731 or email deborah@poynter.org or sponsorships@poynter.org.
About the Poynter Institute:
The Poynter Institute is a global nonprofit working to address society’s most pressing issues by teaching journalists and journalism, covering the media and the complexities facing the industry, convening and community building, improving the capacity and sustainability of news organizations and fostering trust and reliability of information. The Institute is the gold standard in journalistic excellence and dedicated to the preservation and advancement of press freedom in democracies worldwide. Through Poynter, journalists, newsrooms, businesses, big tech corporations and citizens convene to find solutions that promote trust and transparency in news and stoke meaningful public discourse. The world’s top journalists and emerging media leaders rely on the Institute to learn new skills, adopt best practices, better serve audiences, scale operations and improve the quality of the universally shared information ecosystem.
The Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership, the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), MediaWise and PolitiFact are all members of the Poynter organization.
Support for Poynter and our entities upholds the integrity of the free press and the U.S. First Amendment and builds public confidence in journalism and media — an essential for healthy democracies. Learn more at poynter.org.
Media Contact:
Jennifer Orsi
Vice President, Publishing and Local News Initiatives
jorsi@poynter.org
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