Lesson 1

It goes without saying that the scourge of misinformation and 'fake news' is one of the major social issues of our time. We see examples of how the open web has both democratized information, by opening up the door to many more voices and opinions. However, at the same time, new technologies have also polarized our discourse around some of our most pressing social issues. In addition, players with intentions other than to inform and empower flood these open channels with junk information in hopes of gaining profits or influence. Efforts to stem this tide continue to lead to more sophisticated methods to mislead.

As consumers, we are largely left to our own devices to wallow through oceans of misinformation when trying to find answers.

We are firm believers in the power of the free press. However, we know that it is not only up to journalists to hope to counter misinformation. There is also power in educating the public on how to discern and find reliable information on their own.

Upon this belief, Stony Brook University has pioneered this course in News Literacy, because you are citizens of a democracy that heavily relies on the work of journalists and the news media industry. We teach students to find reliable information they need to take full command of the incredible powers that were reserved to every citizen under our constitution: the power to think for ourselves and to speak for ourselves as a means to govern ourselves.

Used frivolously, these powers are easy to dismiss. Many certainly exercise free speech in different mediums (radio, social media, television, YouTube), but to what end?

Used skillfully, our powers - to assemble peacefully, speak forcefully and govern ourselves - often make America the gold standard for justice and freedom, and a haven for the world’s freest and finest minds. But the constitution’s framers assumed citizens were worthy of these powers when they were well-informed.

Access to reliable information that you can act upon is the foundation of self-governance. But the world is flailing its way through an information revolution of historic importance.