"It is up to the reader or viewer to negotiate truth."
Joyce Valenza, 2016
In this world of fake news, it's easy to forget that even legitimate sources must be looked at skeptically. Of course, the first step is to verify a news story isn't fake, but that doesn't necessarily mean it is "true" either. Truth is, unfortunately, not as objective as we would like to believe. Every "truth" is colored by the opinions of the person delivering it. Recognizing that fact is an essential part of being media literate.
The Liturgists podcast provides wonderful tools for verifying media in their episode "Fake News & Media Literacy". The process, simplified into the catchy, tongue-in-cheek song, embedded to the right outlines how to identify fake news. But the hosts don't stop there, they continue to talk about their information diet. How they make sure to consume a diverse range of legitimate sources, from different sides of the issues. Not only does this approach allow a reader to understand perspectives different from their own, but it makes the bias on both sides of the issue more clear. In the episode, the hosts state:
The Liturgists podcast provides wonderful tools for verifying media in their episode "Fake News & Media Literacy". The process, simplified into the catchy, tongue-in-cheek song, embedded to the right outlines how to identify fake news. But the hosts don't stop there, they continue to talk about their information diet. How they make sure to consume a diverse range of legitimate sources, from different sides of the issues. Not only does this approach allow a reader to understand perspectives different from their own, but it makes the bias on both sides of the issue more clear. In the episode, the hosts state:
"The more you agree with something the more you need to be intentionally skeptical because confirmation bias is one hell of a drug. The more you agree, the less likely you are to be skeptical." (Gungor and McHargue, 2016)It's an important reminder. Too often, articles that seem to confirm our beliefs are given less scrutiny. And again, even if they are verifiable stories from a reliable source, that does not mean it is free of bias. Facts may be presented in a way to be intentionally divisive or conversely to downplay or shift focus. By remaining skeptical of even our most trusted news outlets and seeking information from a variety of sources we can begin to "negotiate truth" as Joyce Valenza stated in School Library Journal in 2016.
As librarians and media specialists it is important to teach by example. I, like many Americans, get more of my news from social media than I care to admit; that needs to change. If only because it is widely understood that social media algorithms limit the diversity of news content (Bohannon, 2015) & . Moreover, students come from all walks of life, and look to their teachers as authorities on information. If we are not negotiating truth from the fullest range of verified sources, how can we possibly teach them to do so?
Bohannon, J. (2015). Is Facebook keeping you in a political bubble. Science Mag. Retrieved from https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2015/05/facebook-keeping-you-political-bubble
Gungor, M. & McHargue, M. (2017). Fake News and Media Literacy. The Liturgists [podcast].
The Liturgists [screen name]. (2018, March 14). It's Fake [video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/QgPgxVQ8EI8
Ted-Ed [screen name]. (2014, June 5). How to Choose Your News - Damon Brown [video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/q-Y-z6HmRgI
Valenza, J. (2016). Truth, truthiness, triangulation: A news literacy toolkit for a “post-truth” world. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://blogs.slj.com/neverendingsearch/2016/11/26/truth-truthiness-triangulation-and-the-librarian-way-a-news-literacy-toolkit-for-a-post-truth-world/
I really enjoyed the Podcast on Fake News. The song you mentioned just made me laugh out loud. You make a good point, that often the articles that we agree with or that confirm our beliefs, we often give less scrutiny. That may just be human nature, so it's important that we remember the things to look for in a news story that were mentioned in that song that kept me laughing. Funny, but also important as librarians.
ReplyDeleteI also found it very interesting to think about how skeptical one should be when they find themselves agreeing too much with what is being said. The act of constantly challenging oneself by reading a wide variety of material from either side of the aisle is a vital practice for the informationally literate.
ReplyDeleteI agree! Sometimes, if an article seems like it would get me too worked up, I deliberately go and check for a take on the story from a source that is biased in the other direction. Just to see how others are looking at it.
DeleteYou brought up some great points. Many times we only choose to get our information from a source that goes along with how we feel and our views. Confirmational Bias is something that a lot of people do not think about. They outright trust sites of corporations that they are familiar with without realizing that to truly be informed you must get all sides of the story. This will help you become a more well rounded thinker and you will start to question information....which is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteIt's very tempting! If I already believe something passionately, it feels so validating to find an article that supports that view. However, that is how people become entrenched in a view point. It's especially dangerous if you are only getting your news from one source!
DeleteI loved when you brought up the point that as media specialists, we should teach by example. I think it is important that we create life long learners and lead by example through gathering information and teaching how to research.
ReplyDeleteThat's such a big part of being an educator for me! It really shifts your perspective and behavior to think "Do I really want a child imitating this behavior or solving this problem this way?"
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