Overview

In an era defined by information overload and polarized discourse, Sowing the West Texas Wind brings together a diverse array of scholars, scientists, journalists, and legal experts to examine the rise of misinformation and its real-world impacts. The scope goes from the deeply local to the national and global to understand how trust is won and lost. With a focus on the last decade's most defining crises—including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate disinformation, and election interference—this timely collection uses West Texas as a revealing microcosm for understanding how falsehoods take root and spread. Rather than preaching from political extremes, however, the book probes how misinformation distorts community life, corrodes democratic processes, and complicates public health and policy decisions. The contributors explore the phenomenon through case studies that span health communication, climate science, law, media studies, and security policy. From the infiltration of ""pink slime"" journalism in Lubbock to the influence of Russian disinformation on Texas secessionist movements, the chapters dissect the anatomy of confusion. There are insights for local leaders, journalists, and citizens alike as we navigate a terrain of contested truths. Sowing the West Texas Wind goes beyond merely calling out dysfunction to invite collective reflection on the complex interplay between how we see ourselves and navigate shifting media ecosystems. By illuminating both the local textures and global consequences of our epistemic crisis, the book offers insights for those seeking practical, informed pathways through today's tangled information landscape.

Full Product Details

Author:   Bryan Giemza ,  Robert Moses Peaslee ,  Erik P Bucy ,  Katharine Hayhoe
Publisher:   Texas A & M University Press
Imprint:   Texas A & M University Press
ISBN:  

9781682833001

ISBN 10:   1682833003
Pages:   408
Publication Date:   10 March 2026
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  College/higher education ,  Professional & Vocational ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available  
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Table of Contents

Introduction: Epistemic Disorder and Democratic Vulnerability Robert Moses Peaslee et al., “We felt like we were doing noble work”: Local Information Flows in the Texas South Plains During the COVID-19 Pandemic Bryan A. Giemza, Made in Texas, Sometimes with Imported Ingredients: Pink Slime Journalism Arrives in Lubbock Erik P. Bucy, Misinformation and Vaccination Hesitancy Surrounding the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Perfect Storm of Distortion and Doubt Katharine Hayhoe and Bryan Giemza, Headwinds: A Conversation about Climate Communication and Disinformation Kenton T. Wilkinson and Lucinda Holt, Juntos estamos saludables: Addressing COVID-19 Mis/Disinformation Among Hispanics/Latinos on the South Plains of Texas Lyombe Eko, Seeing Double: Two American Journalists, Linguistic Affinity, and Russian Disinformation in the 2014 and 2022 Invasions of Ukraine Ori Swed, Digital Manipulation: Unmasking Russian Trolls' Role in Fueling Texas Secession Fever during the 2016 US Presidential Campaign Brie D. Sherwin, Anatomy of a Conspiracy Theory: Law, Politics, and Science Denialism in the Era of COVID-19

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Author Information

Bryan Giemza is Professor of Humanities and Literature in the Texas Tech Honors College and a 2025 US Fulbright Scholar. As a public scholar and author grounded in law and literature, he directs engaged scholarship initiatives and leads international resilience-focused collaborations at Texas Tech University. His work explores misinformation, democracy, and cultural change in the US and beyond.

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