The way forward: Adult educators combating mis/disinformation via formal and informal education

Abstract

In this article, I discuss the academic field of adult education as it relates to critical media literacy, critical public pedagogy, social and civic activism, and higher education in this era many have labeled “post‐truth.” I ask readers to reconsider the traditional university tenure process and the academic publishing industry as outdated systems that indirectly support disinformation and misinformation by ignoring the impact of media on adult learning and participatory democracy. After discussing alternative methods for disseminating research and expertise, I close with thoughts on Paulo Freire's view of education as humanization in this time of technological domination.