Who’s Telling the Truth?

At a time when the spread of misinformation and disinformation has been rapidly increasing, the College of Communication, Media, Design and Information is collaborating with organizations across the state on media literacy education.

Despite extraordinary challenges, independent local newsrooms continue to play a vital role as watchdogs focused on preserving our democracy. At the same time, readers presented by a barrage of stories online and in print often don’t know what information they can trust.

In partnership with the Poynter Institute, Moments of Truth: An Exploration of Journalism’s Past, Present and Future,will be available on loan to Colorado high schools and public institutions.

Curated by the Poynter Institute’s MediaWise, the interactive exhibit explores the rise of the American free press, from its first newspapers to the rise of artificial intelligence. It also offers practical teachings to separate fact from fiction in a world of deepfakes and technology-assisted misinformation. Visitors are invited to explore the evolution of journalism and learn how the industry is adapting to the future, all while strengthening their media literacy skills.

Sept. 14: Who's Telling the Truth? What Media Literacy, Authenticity and Gatekeeping Mean Now

Presented by Colorado Mesa University’s Languages, Literature and Mass Communication program and CU ǸԹ’s College of Communication, Media, Design and Information

Despite extraordinary challenges, independent local newsrooms continue to play a vital role as watchdogs focused on preserving our democracy. This interactive community conversation will include a moderated panel with reporters and researchers followed by audience participation at table conversations to address: what is needed to ensure our communities receive news they trust on the issues important to them.

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If you go

5 to 6:30 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 14

Meyer Ballroom

Colorado Mesa University Center
1100 North Avenue
Grand Junction, Colorado

Panelists

Holly Oberle

Associate Professor of Political Science
Colorado Mesa University

Holly Oberle,associate professor of sociology at Colorado Mesa University, teaches courses in the fields of international relations, comparative politics, foreign policy analysis, gender and politics and international studies. She has lived and worked in Germany, Hungary, Spain, Bangladesh, Israel, Egypt and China and speaks German. She does her best to bring her international experience to the classroom and is particularly happy to discuss international career as well as study abroad opportunities with any students that are interested.Oberle’s courses often include games, simulations, field trips and other real-world experience as often as possible.

Stina Sieg

Western Slope Reporter
Colorado Public Radio

Stina Stieg, a Western Slope reporter at Colorado Public Radio since 2019, has more than a decade of reporting experience in radio and print journalism. Stina has been recognized throughout her career with awards for outstanding journalism. Most recently, she was presented a PRNDI Award, three Edward R. Murrow Regional Awards, an NLGJA Excellence in Journalism Award and a National Headliner Award. Additionally, she was named “Storyteller of the Year” by Phoenix New Times in 2017.

Julia Wildman

Editor-in-Chief
The Criterion

Julia Wildman is editor-in-chief of the nationally award-winning university newspaper, The Criterion and a senior sociology major with minors in geography and mass communication at Colorado Mesa University.

She is the 2026 recipient of SPJ's Robert D.G. Lewis First Amendment Award for outstanding service to the First Amendment, president of the Society of Professional Journalists student chapter, and has interned for Grand Junction's local newspaper, The Daily Sentinel.Julia's breaking-news coverage of the white supremacist Jared Taylor speaking at CMU was regionally and nationally recognized by SPJ and exemplifies her commitment to reporting.

Pat Ferrucci

Professor, Journalism
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Patrick Ferrucciis a professor of journalism in CU ǸԹ’s College of Communication, Media, Design and Information. Before entering academia, Ferrucci spent nine years as a journalist covering pop culture, primarily rock music, for various newspapers, magazines and online publications.

His research is in media sociology and primarily concerns itself with how shifting notions of “organization” in journalism lead to influence on journalism practice. Specifically, his research examines organization-level variables’ impact on message construction and the work practices of journalists. Ferrucci is the author of three books and the co-editor of one. His most recent book (The Organization of Journalism, University of Illinois Press, 2024) examines the impact of market/ownership model on news production.

Moderated by

Chuck Plunkett


Chuck Plunkett

Assistant Teaching Professor, Journalism
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Chuck Plunkett, a professional journalist for more than 24 years, directs CU News Corps, a capstone program for journalism undergraduate and graduate students at the ǸԹ. Before joining the university, his tenure at The Denver Post included leadership roles as the editorial page editor and politics editor. Prior to his move to Colorado in 2003, Plunkett worked at The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and his hometown paper, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

His awards include:The National Press Club's John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award; the Colby College Elijah Parish Lovejoy Award for courage in reporting and writing; the ACLU Colorado Tajiri Award, for media work on behalf of civil liberties; the University of Denver Journalism in the Public Interest Award, and the Colorado Association of Libraries Julie J. Boucher Community Honor Roll Award for Intellectual Freedom.

Convened by

Laurena Davis

Laurena Davis

Assistant Professor of Mass Communication Colorado Mesa University

Laurena Davis,assistant professor of mass communication at Colorado Mesa University, brings to her classrooms applied communication expertise in technical communication, public affairs, public relations, journalism, public speaking, and book publishing. Activities-based learning forms the core of every course, with students actively engaged as critical thinkers and makers. Davis's research areas include utilizing biofeedback to manage public speaking anxiety, oral histories, Hollywood 10 member Dalton Trumbo, and techno-feminist rhetoric.

Moments of Truth

Moments of Truth: An Exploration of Journalism’s Past, Present and Futurewill be on display in beginning Sept. 9 and continuing through the end of the month. “Moments of Truth” was curated by the Poynter Institute’s MediaWise program in partnership with CU ǸԹ’s College of Communication, Media, Design and Information.

If you go

  • What: “Moments of Truth: An Exploration of Journalism’s Past, Present, and Future”

  • When: Sept. 9 - 30

  • Where: Colorado Mesa University|, second floor
    1100 North Avenue
    Grand Junction, CO 81501

Free and open to the public

The interactive exhibit explores the rise of the American free press, from its first newspapers to the growth of artificial intelligence. It also offers practical teachings to separate fact from fiction in a world of deepfakes and technology-assisted misinformation. Originally created to celebrate Poynter’s 50th anniversary, MediaWise created a customized version with Colorado-specific examples, including a panel focusing on the state’s past, present and future media story.

This year, students attending CMU’s annual Media Innovation Day, which will bring together hundreds of high school and college students from across Colorado and the Western Slope on Sept. 24, will tour the exhibit.

The Moments of Truth exhibit at Tomlinson Library was made possible by The Poynter Institute, MediaWise, CU ǸԹ’s College of Communication, Media, Design and Information and Colorado Mesa University.