As part of our ongoing work to help ensure consumers are well-informed, media savvy, and able to avoid misinformation and deceptive and misleading advertising, we invite you to register for Consumer Action’s upcoming webinar, “Not Buying It: Protecting consumers from deceptive ads and misinformation.”

Confirmed webinar speaker Shana Mueller, director of communication, public policy and advocacy at the nonprofit Truth in Advertising, will discuss harmful marketing tactics such as deceptive health claims, subscription traps, false Made in USA marketing, and influencer endorsements that lack proper disclosures. Mueller will also explain that consumer protection begins with media literacy and awareness and will offer real-world examples to help consumers spot false ads and better protect their wallet.

Also speaking during the webinar will be Dr. Michelle A. Amazeen, associate dean of research and associate professor of mass communication at Boston University’s College of Communication. Amazeen will discuss how today’s news outlets—both legacy and digital first—and advertisers contribute to and legitimize disinformation by blurring the line between ads and journalism. Amazeen will discuss examples of native advertising (paid content that looks like a news article) and explain how it can affect consumers’ day-to-day decisions and harm journalistic integrity.