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Digital Media Literacy

Fact-Checking Using 4 Moves

CC-BY Cathie LeBlanc

 

Media Literacy

How to be media literate:

  • Be curious: Independently verify the source (by performing a separate search) and independently verify the information (through mainstream news sources and fact-checking sites).
  • Be reflective: If you have an immediate emotional reaction to a news article or source: pause, reflect, investigate. Exciting an emotional reaction is a primary goal of fake news producers. Do not be part of a viral fake news spiral!
  • Actively investigate your news sources: Select news sources known for high-quality, investigative reporting. Search these sources directly. Don't settle for web search results or social media news feeds. Social media algorithms are designed to present the news that reinforces your current views, not a balanced view.
  • Look for in-depth coverage: Look for lengthy articles--long-form reporting--that better capture the complexity of topics and events. One or two paragraphs is not sufficient. Take a look at this article from Slate as an example of a longer, in-depth article.

Data, Statistical, and Health Literacy

Becoming an astute user of news content in the media means learning to understand the proper use of data and statistics in the news.

Health Literacy:

Credits: TEDNYC talk recommended by Amelia Kallaher. Article from Understanding Data, part of The Data Journalism Handbook, Version 1.0 beta online.

Three Ways to Spot a Bad Statistic!

Last updated on Feb 23, 2024 10:32 AM