AMONG THE TROLLS: 'In Conversation' with Marianna Spring

MY NAME IS MARIANNA SPRING AND SOME OF MY TROLLS SAY THEY WANT TO K*ll ME
Threats and abuse litter Marianna's social media feeds. They infect her everyday life. Sometimes the people behind the messages try to find her in person. This seems to be the price of venturing into the world of conspiracy theories, hate and algorithms. And it turns out, she is far from alone.

In 2020, Marianna became the BBC’s first disinformation and social media correspondent, and since then she has been trying to understand conspiracyland. Where does the vitriol come from? What drives otherwise reasonable people to believe that almost everything – from the worst attacks and wars to global health crises and climate change – is a hoax designed to K*ll or control millions of us?

In Among the Trolls Marianna tells the first-hand stories of the trolls and the trolled, those behind the information battle that threatens not just the way society works, but also some of the qualities we value most about being human: respect, fairness, tolerance, integrity and kindness.

Marianna Spring will be in 'In Conversation' with Prof. Karen Douglas, and will also be signing copies of her latest book, Among The Trolls, which is available for pre-order or purchase on the night.

• DOORS OPEN : 18:45
• TALK STARTS : 19:30
• AUDIENCE Q&A : 20:30
• BOOK SIGNING : 21:00

AUTHOR Biography
Marianna Spring is the BBC's first disinformation and social media correspondent and an award-winning journalist. She presents podcasts and documentaries investigating disinformation and social media for BBC Radio 4 podcasts, as well as for BBC Panorama and BBC Three. She is also one of the presenters of the BBC's Americast podcast. In 2022, she was named the British Press Guild's Audio Presenter of the year and Royal Television Society Innovation winner.

CHAIR Biography

Karen Douglas is Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Kent and she is currently the director of the ERC funded project .
Karen studies the psychology of conspiracy theories, why they appeal to so many people, and the consequnces of such beliefs on individuals, groups and societies.

Praise for 'Among The Trolls':

'Full of unbelievable nonsense’ - Ian Hislop

‘A tour de force’ - Jeremy Vine

‘An excellent piece of investigative journalism’ - Julia Ebner, Telegraph

‘A compelling guided tour of a dystopian underworld’ - John Naughton, Observer

Host or Publisher Brighton Skeptics in the Pub