Welland battling misinformation, fiction online with new webpage
Bulk of confusion to do with planning and building issues
Information can take on a “life of its own” once it starts circulating in a town or city.
That’s according to the City of Welland and its new program, Fact vs. Fiction, an online forum that is part of its Engage Welland platform and designed to “correct misinformation, clarify misconceptions and drill down to the root sources of issues that create confusion,” said a news release from the municipality Wednesday, the day it was launched.
Leading up to last year’s municipal election, several candidates informed city staff they had been fielding questions and hearing incorrect information from residents, the city said.
“We developed the page to help clear the air about anything that might incorrectly be floating around in the community,” Marc MacDonald, corporate communications manager, said in the release.
He said candidates claimed to have “spent a lot of time correcting things” while on the campaign trail.
Sometimes when a piece of inaccurate information is heard by someone, it “transforms from there,” and begins a “game of telephone,” said MacDonald.
Last May, the city had to issue statements over a fake news release circulating on social media that said the former Welland Canal in Dain City was to be backfilled by Empire Communities, a developer establishing two major subdivisions in Welland’s far south end.
“When you think of that one, whoever put it together, they took the time to actually make it look like a city media release,” said MacDonald.
He said the bulk of recent confusion has to do with city planning and building issues, which can be connected to municipal, regional and provincial governments all being involved.
“It’s easy to get lost in who does what and when,” said MacDonald.
He said the goal is for the page to present facts about a project or program.
“We don’t want to create an argument; we want to ensure that when the community receives information, it’s correct,” said MacDonald.
The page will include a questionand-answer section, polls, idea sharing and an assembly of past questions or misconceptions the city has been made aware of, said MacDonald. The city uses social media, media releases, a podcast, and print and digital media to share information. People can visit the page at engagewelland.ca/fact-vsfiction.