Podcast Summary: On the Media – "At What Cost?"

Release Date: October 14, 2022
Host: Brooke Gladstone
Produced by WNYC Studios

Introduction

In the episode titled "At What Cost?" On the Media delves deep into the repercussions of Alex Jones' disinformation campaigns, particularly focusing on his false claims about the Sandy Hook massacre. Hosts Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger navigate through the legal, social, and psychological impacts of Jones' actions, examining the broader implications for media trust and societal polarization.

The Alex Jones Verdict and Its Aftermath

Alex Jones Ordered to Pay Damages

The episode opens with the landmark decision where Alex Jones was mandated to pay nearly a billion dollars in damages for spreading falsehoods about the Sandy Hook massacre.

• Alex Jones [00:07]: "Ain't gonna be happening. Ain't no money."

• Brooke Gladstone [00:09]: "The conspiracist finally gets his comeuppance. But is the damage beyond repair?"

Impact on Sandy Hook Families

Elizabeth Williamson, author of Sandy Hook: An American Tragedy and the Battle for Truth, provides a harrowing account of the trial's emotional toll on the families.

• Elizabeth Williamson [04:10]: "Truth is what we base our reality... Sandy Hook is a hard truth. Nobody would want to ever believe that 26 kids could be murdered."

The jury's decision mandates Jones to compensate the families of eight victims and an FBI agent, highlighting the severe personal and financial consequences of his defamatory conspiracy theories.

• Alex Jones [04:06]: "Alex Jones was ordered to pay nearly a billion dollars in damages for the extraordinary lies he spread about the Sandy Hook massacre."

Robbie Parker's Testimony

Robby Parker, whose daughter Emily was a victim, emerges as the emotional core of the trial. His heartfelt recounting of Emily's life and the subsequent harassment from Jones' followers underscores the personal devastation caused by misinformation.

• Elizabeth Williamson [08:09]: "My daughter Emily would be one of the first ones to be standing and giving her love and support to all those victims... she was the type of person that could just light up a room."

• Alex Jones [03:28]: "He pleaded the fifth nearly 100 times instead of answering questions so surprising to those of us who have been watching from afar."

Parker's resilience throughout the trial and his call to Jones' followers to critically assess the information they consume epitomize the families' fight for truth.

• Elizabeth Williamson [10:54]: "So what Robbie was saying was, he's lying to you. He's doing this to sell you products. He's keeping you on the hook until he can deliver the sales pitch."

Social Media and Online Hostility

The Role of Social Media

The episode explores whether social media platforms are culpable in transforming amiable individuals into hostile online personas.

• Michael Bang Peterson [00:43]: "The data says nope, we did not find this huge group of people who report to be nice in face to face discussions, but hostile online."

Psychological Insights

Political science professor Michael Bang Peterson discusses his research, revealing that online hostility isn't necessarily a product of social media algorithms but rather a reflection of existing societal polarization.

• Michael Bang Peterson [36:28]: "We do not know very well. He directs the Research on Online Political Hostility project, which found that algorithms aren't making people meaner online. They were already mean when they logged on."

Echo Chambers and Polarization

Peterson challenges the conventional notion of echo chambers, suggesting that social media actually dismantles these barriers, exposing individuals to a broader spectrum of opinions, which can intensify hostility among predisposed individuals.

• Michael Bang Peterson [38:25]: "The biggest echo chamber that we all live in is the one we live in in our everyday lives."

Former Infowars Staffer's Testimony

Josh Owens' Journey

Josh Owens, a former cameraman and editor for Infowars, shares his transformative experience working under Alex Jones. His testimony sheds light on the internal mechanisms of spreading disinformation and the personal guilt associated with it.

• Josh Owens [24:02]: "I wrote over time, as I stood behind a camera and watched Jones ignore, conflate, misrepresent, and fabricate information, my critical thinking skills improved."

Realization and Departure

Owens recounts pivotal moments that led to his disillusionment, including the Islamburg investigation, where fabricated stories about Muslim communities starkly contrasted with reality.

• Josh Owens [25:34]: "It's all over the place. Like I said, it was like taking a fire hose straight into your mouth. It was just non stop chaos."

His eventual realization of the harm caused prompted him to leave Infowars, seeking redemption and a path to rectify the damage he inadvertently contributed to.

• Alex Jones [34:05]: "You aren't going to find it there."

The Broader Implications of Misinformation

Legal and Social Accountability

Elizabeth Williamson discusses the ongoing battle to hold individuals like Alex Jones accountable, emphasizing that financial penalties may not fully address the systemic issues of misinformation.

• Elizabeth Williamson [13:19]: "The families acknowledge that they really do feel like what they've won here is a battle for truth."

Impact on Political Extremism

The episode ties the rise of conspiracy theories to broader political instability, linking the spread of misinformation to events like the January 6th Capitol attack.

• Brooke Gladstone [48:20]: "Liz Cheney opened this week's January 6th committee hearing with a statement that the goal is to propose reforms to prevent January 6th from ever happening again."

Social Media's Double-Edged Sword

Michael Bang Peterson underscores the dual nature of social media as both a tool for connectivity and a facilitator of coordination for disruptive activities.

• Michael Bang Peterson [50:27]: "The connectivity of social media is a tool that can be used for good or for bad, and we need to figure out how we can make sure that it's mainly used for good."

Conclusion

"At What Cost?" presents a comprehensive exploration of the devastating effects of Alex Jones' misinformation campaigns, the resilience of affected families, and the intricate relationship between social media and societal polarization. Through personal testimonies and expert insights, the episode underscores the urgent need for accountability, media literacy, and political will to combat the pervasive spread of harmful disinformation.

Notable Quotes:

• Elizabeth Williamson [19:28]: "These conspiracy theories and the people who embrace them are driven by factors that don't have to do necessarily with the content."

• Michael Bang Peterson [44:11]: "The people who are sharing misinformation are not ignorant. They are used to navigate social media and the Internet."

• Brooke Gladstone [21:15]: "He's just selling these diet supplements and survivalist gear and dried food and quack cures on his online and radio show."

Key Takeaways:

1. Legal Accountability: The substantial financial penalties against Alex Jones mark a significant step in holding purveyors of misinformation accountable, though challenges in asset recovery persist.

2. Personal Toll: The legal battles have exacerbated the trauma for Sandy Hook families, exposing them to further harassment and threats.

3. Social Media Dynamics: Contrary to popular belief, social media doesn't inherently turn nice people into hostile individuals but amplifies existing societal divisions.

4. Political Polarization: The spread of misinformation is deeply intertwined with political polarization, necessitating systemic reforms beyond merely addressing online platforms.

5. Hope for Change: Despite the pervasive nature of misinformation, there remains hope through increased media literacy, accountability, and proactive political measures.

This summary encapsulates the critical discussions and insights from the "At What Cost?" episode of On the Media, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened.