Reading Beyond the Headlines

 

It has been reported that people only read the headlines of news reports they encounter. While this can be a time-saving strategy, headlines do not provide enough information to understand the information provided. This episode focuses on reading beyond the headlines and exploring the reasons why people should read more of the news story. This is the first episode on Information Literacy category as part of the Adult Learning Exchange Virtual Community. Dr. Lilian H. Hill is the moderator of the online forum. Listen to the episode and join in the online forum.

 Listen to the Podcast

 

Information Literacy Episode 1 Transcript

References

Etzioni, R. (2020, February 13). Spinning science: Overhyped headlines, snarled statistics lead readers astray. Fred Hutch Cancer Center. Retrieved https://www.fredhutch.org/en/news/center-news/2020/02/spinning-science-overhyped-headlines-snarled-statistics-lead-readers-astray.html

Marquet, N. (2016, September 17). How to write a catchy headline in 1 Minute and 7 Seconds. Retrieved https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-a-catchy-headline-in-1-minute-and-7-seconds/?gclid=Cj0KCQiApb2bBhDYARIsAChHC9vvWagplkp3jsuWN9LRfhSS0KBpEFBnbSeq2htwuyLBFlNhD3ovKjcaApnlEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Maybin, S. (2017). Busting the attention span myth. BBC World Service, More or Less. Retrieved https://www.bbc.com/news/health-38896790

Ways for Detecting False Information

 

There are different ways for detecting false information:

• Look for inconsistencies and contradictions in the text
• Identify whose agenda and interests are being served by the story
• Examine the source for what information is presented favorably or negatively and ask why
• Interpret information from multiple viewpoints
• Look at the emotional content of the language and decide if it is meant to make you happy, angry, sad, or outraged. Why?
• Examine whether the source is confusing on purpose
• Identify whether the visual images accompanying the story are real, taken out of context, photoshopped, or falsified in some other way

 

References

Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (2022, February). How to Identify Misinformation, Disinformation, and Malinformation. Retrieved https://cyber.gc.ca/sites/default/files/cyber/2022-02/ITSAP-00-300-How-To-Identify-Misinformation_e.pdf

How to Spot Real and Fake News. Retrieved https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/fake-news.htm

Deciding Whether News is Fake or Real

 

The need to ascertain the validity of information we receive is perennial. The term “fake news” has only come into the lexicon in recent years, and it is closely related to other terms such as alternative facts, junk news, pseudo-news, or hoax news. Fake news consists of false stories disguised as real news and can be found on news outlets such as TV, radio, and social media.

The purpose of distributing fake news is to spread false information, and that information can include hoaxes, scams, and frauds. False information can be intended to sway public opinion and influence voting. Examples of false information include promoting a false idea (“the election was stolen”), selling a fake product (“lose 20 pounds in a week with our product”), or confusing people with false information. Techniques that are used include:

• repetition of a point 
• use of emotional and biased language 
• photo-shopped images 
• taking things out of context 
• casting doubt on traditional news

Many incorrect articles and rumors are spread using these techniques, so it is important to become knowledgeable and astute in detecting false information. It can be quite difficult to detect false information because some individuals and organizations are skilled at developing and delivering false information.

• Have you been swayed because of fake news?  

References

Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (2022, February). How to Identify Misinformation, Disinformation, and Malinformation. Retrieved https://cyber.gc.ca/sites/default/files/cyber/2022-02/ITSAP-00-300-How-To-Identify-Misinformation_e.pdf

How to Spot Real and Fake News. Retrieved https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/fake-news.htm

 

Welcome to the Information Literacy Virtual Community!

 

Welcome to the Information Literacy Virtual Community! 

The Information Literacy Virtual Community explores all aspects of information literacy. We examine multiple types of literacies (visual, digital, media), ways that language changes, sociocultural context, protecting yourself from false information, and many other issues related to how adults access and use knowledge to meet their goals and work to create a world they want to live in. 

Information literacy involves the ability to determine the need for information, access information, evaluate the validity of information, apply information to solve problems, communicate information to others, respect the influence of sociocultural context, adhere to ethics in using information, and knowledge creation. Information literacy is closely related to media and digital literacy. 

Join the discussion on the challenges of teaching and communicating in a polarized world!