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The Manning Rotary Club welcomed guest speaker Melissa Foust-McCoy, Managing Editor of The Manning Times, at its regular meeting on Wednesday, April 9. McCoy presented an engaging and timely talk titled “Fact or Fiction: Navigating News in the Age of Misinformation,” exploring media bias, misinformation, and the importance of critical thinking in today’s fast-paced news environment.
McCoy began with a personal story about encouraging her teenagers to fact-check viral claims they encountered on social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube. “It became a game,” she said. “Soon it was, ‘Yes, before you ask, I already looked this up. It seems to be true.’” That experience, she explained, helped shape her passion for helping others become more discerning media consumers.
During her presentation, McCoy explained how bias can appear even in reputable news sources—through word choice, image selection, or what details are emphasized or left out. She also defined the difference between misinformation (shared without harmful intent) and disinformation (intentionally false information), highlighting real-world consequences with examples from the COVID-19 pandemic and the “Pizzagate” conspiracy.
To lighten the mood, McCoy quizzed the group on classic newsroom jargon like “lede,” “nut graf,” and “scoop,” and even shared a few media-themed dad jokes, including: “Why did the newspaper go to therapy? Because it had too many issues.”
In other club news, members were reminded that the Manning Rotary Club will soon announce the recipients of the 2025 Judge James Dingle Manning Rotary Club Scholarship. Students across Clarendon County submitted applications earlier this year, and winners will be notified and recognized in the coming weeks.
To keep up with upcoming speakers, events, and club updates, visit the Manning Rotary Club’s Facebook page.
