Fake News, Witch Hunts, and Conspiracy Theories

Dr. Pauline Hoffmann has a background in science, public relations and media studies. In Fake News, Witch Hunts, and Conspiracy Theories: An Infodemiologist's Guide to the Truth, she scrutinizes the decline of truthfulness and trust in both public and private discourse. Weaving in the history of the Revolutionary War-era backlash against early smallpox vaccinations, the use of fluoride in water, and the origin of the term ‘snake oil’ salesman, Hoffmann seeks to arm responsible citizens with the knowledge and tools to detect and reject falsehoods. Misinformation and disinformation ‘play on our fears,’ she writes, ‘They reinforce our already held beliefs.’ –Louis Jacobson, Senior Correspondent at PolitiFact, a fact-checking site Dr. Pauline Hoffmann has great curiosity about the world around her that shows in her presentations and her writing. Her background in science along with her communication skills provide vehicles through which she can shape her analysis and commentary. Who else can write the story of life on the farm, or an editorial on the need for better health screening and then pivot to a mini lesson on how to determine the accuracy of a media blast or set up a March Madness elimination tourney of history’s overlooked women? And best of all, in my opinion, she threads her words with humor. –Peggy Burke, Professor Emerita, St. Bonaventure University Dr. Pauline Hoffmann does a great job of explaining various motives and reasons for why all of us are prone to misinformation. She also provides tips for when we are most susceptible to misinformation, and offers excellent remedies to protect ourselves from making these mistakes–this an excellently written and must-read book! –Dr. Benjamin Gross, Associate Professor, Department Chair of Sociology and Criminology at St. Bonaventure University In her work, Pauline asks us to seek ‘trust, truth and conversation.’ She is an ambassador of lifelong learning and a passionate knowledge hunter, while urging us to dismantle disinformation through understanding and compassion, not silence or fear. I admire and applaud her work. –Kathy Geller Myers, Strategic Communications Expert Fake News, Witch Hunts, and Conspiracy Theories is more than just an exposé of deceit—it's a call to action. Empowering readers with the knowledge and tools they need to become savvy consumers of information, Dr. Pauline Hoffmann provides practical strategies for verifying sources, evaluating credibility, and challenging misleading narratives. This meticulously researched and thought-provoking book delves deep into the murky waters of disinformation and fake news, offering readers invaluable insights and practical strategies for discerning fact from fiction in an increasingly deceptive digital landscape. –Pamela Ferman, COO at Healis Health Dr. Pauline Hoffman is my former communications professor and a loyal ally because she is not afraid of big emotions. She has a quick wit about life and an ability to move forward to dig deeper, to talk and jump in to cultivate relationships. Her adeptness to engage in difficult conversations is a catalyst for respect and connection. –Elizabeth C. Ortega, ECO Strategic Communications Once upon a time, it was easy to tell the difference between the truth and a lie, but those days are now a thing of the past. Today, we are bombarded by disinformation, misinformation and conspiracy theories–much of it coming from carefully crafted messages with ulterior motives. How do we separate truth from fiction? Fake News, Witch Hunts, and Conspiracy Theories is a good place to start. Through research, data and a unique sense of humor, Dr. Pauline Hoffmann provides a roadmap to finding the truth amid all the clutter of today’s information world. –Dr. Richard Lee, Executive Director at Jandoli Institute