E24 Dr. Lance Holbert

We had the honor of speaking with Dr. Lance Holbert, a long-time inspiration behind the direction of our work. He is the Director of the Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics (LAIC) at the University of Pennsylvania, a Research Professor at the Annenberg Public Policy Center, and one of the foremost experts in political communication and civic education. In this episode, we explore the role of education in combating youth apathy, the ethical and practical implications of positive and negative political advertisements, the Chaffee principle, and the importance of non-partisan media in an era of polarized sensationalism. We also examine the rise of white, grey, and black propaganda, strategies to counter misinformation & disinformation, as well as Dr. Holbert’s innovative work at the intersection of civic engagement and STEM. Stay tuned until the end to hear about Dr. Holbert’s favourite sports tradition and game to watch at Penn—no surprise from a high school athletic hall-of-famer. Check it out!