Fighting Disinformation: How You Can Make a Difference

The Tyee Launches Reality Check Project to Combat Disinformation

In an era when trustworthy information faces unprecedented challenges, The Tyee has unveiled its mission statement for 2026: “Keep it real by fighting disinformation every day.” The independent Canadian news outlet has launched an ambitious year-end fundraising drive with a goal of recruiting 750 new recurring supporters by December 31st, while simultaneously announcing its new Reality Check Project.

“There was a time when our shared reality was a given. Now powerful forces laugh as they saw away pillars of trustworthy information,” notes The Tyee in its announcement. The organization points to a troubling landscape where digital tycoons and demagogues deliberately “flood the zone” with misinformation, wielding increasingly sophisticated tools like artificial intelligence and manipulated algorithms.

Against this backdrop of shrinking newsrooms and diminishing ad revenues across the journalism industry, The Tyee has positioned itself as a counterforce dedicated to reversing what it describes as a toxic tide of disinformation.

The newly announced Reality Check Project will be led by award-winning investigative reporter and editor Jen St. Denis. The initiative represents a collaborative approach to combating false information, partnering with organizations including the Media Ecosystem Observatory, author James Hoggan, journalist Rachel Gilmore, and DeSmog, a global research organization monitoring fossil fuel industry claims.

“We believe there is power in collaboration,” The Tyee states regarding these partnerships, which aim to maximize impact by sharing reporting resources and audiences.

For 2026, The Tyee has committed to publishing over 1,000 original pieces adhering to their transparent artificial intelligence policy. Their content will focus on several key approaches: debunking lies, exposing misinformation spreaders, using freedom of information laws to uncover secrets, creating clear explainers, providing protective tools against manipulation, tracking money and power networks, investigating government policies, monitoring internet back channels, and highlighting positive community action.

The organization’s journalistic team includes reporters focused on specific beats crucial to maintaining fact-based discourse. Jen St. Denis tracks extremist views around elections, Andrew Nikiforuk investigates government ties to foreign mining interests, Amanda Follett Hosgood covers Indigenous issues and RCMP accountability, while Michael Harris brings decades of political reporting experience to federal coverage.

Other team members include Harrison Mooney covering digital manipulation, Ben Parfitt and Zoë Yunker monitoring environmental issues, Michelle Gamage investigating political figures’ credentials, Katie Hyslop reporting on education and online harms, and Isaac Phan Nay covering labor issues and AI impacts.

The Tyee’s fundraising drive highlights that contributions from “Builders” (their term for recurring supporters) represent the largest portion of their budget, enabling the non-profit newsroom to maintain independence while others in the industry struggle or close. This year marks the first time The Tyee can offer tax receipts for contributions as a registered journalism organization.

As an incentive for new supporters, The Tyee is offering a limited edition baseball cap to those who sign up before year-end with a recurring monthly contribution of at least $15 or an annual contribution of $180 or more. The locally designed cap features the slogan “No junk. Just good journalism.”

“Help The Tyee keep going strong in 2026. Help us flood the zone with fact-based, honest journalism expertly reported by a talented team of public-minded individuals,” the organization urges potential supporters as it works toward its goal of strengthening independent media in an increasingly challenging information environment.