Where do most Americans get their news? Identifying the news platforms people use (e.g., TV or print) is helpful, but it’s not the only important thing to know. Another critical question is how many different sources do people use within these platforms? This is important because people tend to rely on a few sources that often echo opinions they already hold: for example, people watch just one news channel, listen to just one radio station, or read just one newspaper because the information provided agrees with what they think. This is why people end up in an information echo chamber where what they see is heavily slanted toward what they already agree with. It’s up to users to break out of these echo chambers to learn about other points of view.
In this activity, students work in teams to examine their personal information echo chambers and create a plan to bring more balance to this aspect of their lives.
In this activity, you will work with one or two other students to examine your personal information echo chamber and create a plan to bring more balance to this aspect of your life .
Here are some online resources you might find useful in your work.
Where do Americans get their news?
Limited access to news
Vetting news sources