Microphones, Misinformation, and Moral Responsibility

A guide for ethical storytelling in the age of misinformation

There’s a strange comfort that comes from slipping on headphones, taking out that smartphone and opening the camera app, pressing record, and just… speaking, into the quiet. For many of us who make things, podcasters, writers, influencers, storytellers, the microphone has become more than a tool. It’s a companion. A channel. A quiet rebellion against the noise.

But lately, I’ve been thinking about the other kind of noise. The dangerous kind. Misinformation. Disinformation.

The stuff that spreads like wildfire on social media, dressed up as truth, cloaked in certainty. It’s everywhere. And the more connected we are, the harder it is to tune out.

“Now, you might be thinking “I’m just a small creator. I don’t have the reach of a news outlet or the clout of a verified account. What difference can I possibly make?”

The answer is. More than you think.

As independent creators, we have something that’s in short supply these days, trust.

Our listeners/viewers/readers come back not because we’re perfect, but because we’re real. Our voices accompany them on walks, during commutes, in the quiet moments at home. An intimacy.

And with that intimacy comes responsibility.

Not in a heavy-handed, self-righteous way. But in a quiet, consistent, intentional way.

A way that says: What I say matters. And I want to get it right.

So how do we push back against misinformation in a way that’s ethical, moral, and still creatively honest? Here’s what I’ve been thinking:

1. Be curious, not conclusive.

Certainty is seductive. It feels good to speak with confidence.

But we’re not here to be authorities, we’re here to explore.

Frame your episodes, reels, posts as questions, not declarations.

Bring your audience along for the ride, rather than positioning yourself as the final word.

2. Do the work—quietly.

Fact-checking doesn’t have to be flashy.

It just needs to be done.

Take an extra five minutes to verify that quote or stat.

If something sounds too good (or too outrageous) to be true, it probably is.

Use sources you’d trust with your own reputation.

3. Credit, don’t co-opt.

If you’re drawing from someone else’s research, article, or lived experience, then say so.

Link it.

Shout it out.

This is more than etiquette, it’s part of dismantling the cycle of uncredited, decontextualised information

4. Build slow trust.

You don’t need to go viral to make a difference.

You just need to be consistent.

Honest.

Human.

The kind of creator who says, “I’m not sure about this, but here’s what I’ve found,” or “This is complex, let’s unpack it together.”

That’s the voice people remember, and return to.

5. Let your ethics shape your content—not the algorithm.

We all feel the pressure to perform.

To grow. To post more, say more, be more.

But growth built on fear or outrage is hollow.

If your gut tells you something’s not right, even if it would get clicks, trust your gut.

In a world saturated with fast content, loud voices, and algorithmic bait, our small, quiet platforms can become sanctuaries.

Places where nuance lives.

Where stories unfold slowly.

Where truth is approached with humility, not declared with arrogance.

And that, I think, is where the real resistance lies.

Not in shouting down the noise, but in quietly, persistently, offering something better.

If you want a bit of guidance or inspiration, I offer simple, one-to-one training to help you use audio creatively and confidently.

Drop me a message if you'd like to know more.