The University of Washington announced a $5 million investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation on Monday that will fund the new Center for an Informed Public. The research initiative is one of five the Knight Foundation is funding across academic institutions.
The Center will study “how and why fake news, misinformation and disinformation are created” according to UW. That includes research, educational efforts, and policy advocacy. The Center will live at the UW Information School. It’s scheduled to open in the fall of 2019.
Jevin West will be the Center’s first director. The assistant professor teaches a class called “Calling BS” and co-directs the UW DataLab.