Presentation Title: Tracking the Information Behaviors of Christian Nationalism in America

Presenter(s): Cailee Page

Abstract: Christian Nationalists are a Far-Right political sect that has its roots in America since the 1950s, but had a resurgence in popularity during the 2016 United States Presidential election. The primary goal of Christian Nationalism is to instill conservative and biblical values in contemporary American politics and restore a “Christian nation” in America. Is it important to follow the information behaviors of the Christian Nationalists because studies have shown that this group has a tendency toward politically motivated violence, and creating, consuming, and spreading misinformation through various information avenues and platforms. The information behaviors of Christian Nationalists are a piece of the puzzle to halting the spread of false information, specifically on the internet.  By researching the Christian Nationalism community and studying their information behaviors, I am hoping to understand how the spread of information occurs amongst participants and how information professionals across disciplines can best support this community in limiting the spread of misinformation. In researching the information behaviors of Christian Nationalism, three primary information sources have been illuminated: 1) religious leaders and figureheads; 2) politicians and the platforms they create; 3) various news and social media platforms. It is through these three sources that Christian Nationalists primarily receive and transmit their information.

Link to Recorded Presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yur7eXxYtb_w9BNtfDxKtiuluvAEsJBY/view?usp=sharing