Beyond the boundaries of science: Resistance to misinformation by scientist citizens

Abstract

In November 2016, small groups of coders, climate scientists, scholars, journalists, and activists came together under the umbrella organization Environmental Data & Governance Initiative (EDGI) to defend against the Trump administration’s attacks on environmental protections. A distinguishing feature of EDGI, and the focus of this study, is the methods it has developed to combat propaganda and misinformation around science. This article analyzes the push-and-pull dynamic between the values and practices of EDGI and journalism, as they interacted in the expanded political information news field. Drawing on EDGI publications and interviews with its members, this article details EDGI’s efforts to connect with journalists and the public. It explores EDGI news coverage, focusing on the manner and frequency in which EDGI values and perspectives were, and were not, conveyed in the coverage. We trace the development of what we argue are new forms of public intervention and offer an expanded understanding of the misinformation ecosystem.