The Importance of News Literacy
Why do we need news literacy?
Nowadays, it is easy to create, publish, and share information that may or may not be true, resulting in the spread of fake news. From causing mistrust, confusion, hatred, violence, and fear, fake news leads people to believe something is true. While there is currently no set definition around the landscape of fake news, there is a need for unanimous meanings around news, media, and digital literacy so that problems and solutions can be identified and resolved. Some of the most common and widely used definitions are as follows:
Misinformation is false, misleading, or out of context information that may or may not be motivated.
Disinformation is deliberately false, misleading, or out of context and often designed to be widely shared, cause harm, persuade people to think a certain way, and/or make money from advertising.
About the Webinar
The second webinar of the ‘Digital Literacy for Educators’ MOOC features Janette Ballard, founder of Be Smart Cookie and former Lead Project Manager at the BBC, who shifts the discussion around digital literacy from theory to practice by exploring:
- The past, present, and future of digital, media, and news literacy
- The landscape of mis- and disinformation
- The missing news literacy skills needed to differentiate fact from fiction
- The best techniques for managing and combating misinformation
Key takeaways
- Information is bypassing an editorial process and going straight to audiences which is a result in the spread of fake news.
- Algorithms do not only suggest content based on likes and clicks, but they’re also designed to play on unconscious bias.
- Fact-checking, cross-checking, and verification are critical for reputable news organizations.
- It is essential to always keep learning and identifying what is going wrong in the media so that a future that combats misinformation can be achieved.
Watch the Video
Watch Janette Ballard and Dr. Emma Pauncefort complement the current course material by discussing practices of digital literacy in the webinar ‘The Urgency of Digital Literacy’.
Access the MOOC
The Digital Literacy Lab for Educators (DLLE) is sets itself apart from other resources in the digital literacy space by connecting the dots between critical thinking and literacy, and the digital world. To access the course content, click here.
