Just a few decades into the digital age, we are learning the hard way that divisive information can contribute to widespread social and political polarization. How can we heal those divisions and cultivate healthier, more peaceful communities? There is good reason to raise alarm bells about political polarization in the US. When grievances over inequality or election integrity erupt, a country can be at greater risk for political violence. Rapidly spreading misinformation and disinformation can exacerbate societal discontent and divisions. Media literacy is a new and essential element of peacebuilding in the digital age. This book helps us understand how the media ecosystem has changed since the digital transition. It also provides practical guidance to help all citizens sort through the massive quantities of information we encounter daily, mitigate the diffusion of disinformation, and lean into constructive civic engagement that bridges our divides and builds community. In the digital age, peacebuilding starts with learning to use the media responsibly. Ultimately, it’s up to each of us to slow down and be savvier in our interactions with information and each other. Overcoming Information Chaos— written by a team of leading media scholars and practitioners, legal experts, psychologists, democracy specialists, and peacebuilders— provides expert guidance about how to defend ourselves against false information. The book also presents practical resources that can be applied in our busy routines, helping us to live as responsible citizens— people who mitigate the divisive consequences of information disorder and cultivate unity in diversity.

Danielle M. Reiff is a peacebuilder, writer, and editor of Overcoming Information Chaos: A Guide to Building Peaceful Communities in the Digital Age. Her writing has appeared in Newsweek and other publications.  As a member of the U.S. diplomatic corps for twenty years, Danielle specialized in supporting democratic transitions and peacebuilding around the world. After retiring, she founded the non-partisan Peacebuilders initiative to promote empathy, dialogue, consultation, and other forms of nonviolence for advancing social change and political reform. Danielle earned a graduate degree in International Relations and Peace from Sciences Po in Paris, France as a member of the first ever cadre of Rotary Peace Fellows. In 2025, she earned an executive certificate in public leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She was a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Burkina Faso from 1998-2000. Danielle has been a Baha’i since 1997. You can learn more about Danielle and connect to her social media accounts at www.peacebuildersunite.com.

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