Media/Information Literacy
This page is meant to give you some tips on how to be a savvy consumer of information.
All Sides - how are stories presented differently based on bias? A site that discussed balanced news and civil discourse
News Literacy Project: This link will bring you to checkology- a platform for the public to learn how to identify credible information, seek out reliable sources, and know what to trust , what to dismiss, and what to debunk.
Remember bias and reliability are different.
Bias is: a particular tendency, trend, inclination, feeling, or opinion, especially one that is preconceived or unreasoned. Reliability is the ability to be relied on or depended on, as for accuracy, honesty, or achievement.
You can agree/disagree with a source/article but that doesn't necessarily mean it is bad information. Look for sources that rate high on the reliability scale- they generally have dependable information.
Types of Fake News
There are four broad categories of fake news, according to media professor Melissa Zimdars of Merrimack College.
CATEGORY 1: Fake, false, or regularly misleading websites that are shared on Facebook and social media. Some of these websites may rely on “outrage” by using distorted headlines and decontextualized or dubious information in order to generate likes, shares, and profits.
CATEGORY 2: Websites that may circulate misleading and/or potentially unreliable information
CATEGORY 3: Websites which sometimes use clickbait-y headlines and social media descriptions
CATEGORY 4: Satire/comedy sites, which can offer important critical commentary on politics and society, but have the potential to be shared as actual/literal news
No single topic falls under a single category - for example, false or misleading medical news may be entirely fabricated (Category 1), may intentionally misinterpret facts or misrepresent data (Category 2), may be accurate or partially accurate, but use an alarmist title to get your attention (Category 3) or may be a critique on modern medical practice (Category 4.) Some articles fall under more than one category. It is up to you to do the legwork to make sure your information is good.
http://libguides.pace.edu/fakenews
The CARS Method for Evaluating Websites
CREDIBILITY
Is there sufficient evidence presented to make the argument persuasive?
Are there enough details for a reasonable conclusion about the information?
Accuracy
Are there assertions that are vague or lacking detail?
Are there errors in spelling and grammar?
Is there sweeping rather than qualified language? (always, never, every…)
Were the facts checked by editors?
Responsibility
Who wrote this information?
Who published this site?
Is this an organization with strong opinions?
When was this site created?
Is the site current?
Are the links maintained?
In what way is the information provided balanced?
Support
Does the site list sources?
Where did the author get this information?
Can you check out the information using another source?
Is there contact information like an email or postal address?
How does the writer know this?
http://www.teachme2tech.com/CARS/index.htmhttp://www.mhhe.com/socscience/english/allwrite3/seyler/ssite/seyler/se03/cars.mhtml
Websites for Fact-Checking
Snopes.com
Politifact.com
Factcheck.org
Other documents and websites to help with information/media literacy
False, Misleading, Clickbait-y, and/or Satirical "News" Sources- information compiled by Dr. Melissa Zimdars, associate professor at Merrimack College and Alexios Mantzarlis, head of the international fact-checking network at the Poynter Institute.
Breaking News Consumer's Handbook
The 10 Questions For Fake News Detection- a great site with some questions to consider when determining if the news is real or fake, brought to you by the News Literacy Project and checkology.org
Common Sense Media- How to Spot Fake News-
Ithaca High School Library Website on Fake News- put together by the Ithaca High School library, this site contains some great information on detecting fake news as well as some case studies to apply your new skills.