How not to Fake News
Getting sidetracked with a fake piece of news or information is something that would normally happen. In March 2018, around 52% of Americans claimed that news websites were constantly publishing fake news. Also, 45% of the British public, said that they find themselves reading fake news every day. Fake News is normally used to advertise or to publish fake information to go alongside with the publisher’s bias. There were around 200 million monthly engagements with fake stories and news on Facebook. But how can you avoid being blindsided by fake news? Media literacy is defined as the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create and act utilizing all kinds of media and communication. These 5 steps are great at spotting any type of media and communication that might be publishing fake information.
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To access any type of media you need a device and a wifi connection. Only 47% of the world has access to the internet, which means less than half of the world’s population can have the latest news stories on their device. The United Nations recently said: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” To have access to the media is fundamental and is now considered a human right.
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The second step is to analyze. The foundation of this step is to acknowledge that all media is constructed with a particular point of view. To analyze a piece of media 5 simple questions can give you a deep insight into it:
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Who created this message and what is the purpose?
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What techniques does it use to attract and hold attention?
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What lifestyles, values and points of view do it depict?
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How might different people interpret this message?
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What is omitted or left out?
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Once you’ve had access and have done the analysis, it’s time to evaluate. There are four key things you need to look out for. The first is relevance. Is it reflecting information relevant to your search? Then you need to check on the accuracy. Is the information backed by confidential evidence or is it just someone’s opinion? It is very important to check the bias of the author. If you see that everything points out to one specific opinion, then it would mean the author wants to persuade something on whoever is reading it. And finally, you need to check on the reliability. This means you have to check how trustworthy the publisher is based on the entirety of the work.
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Finally, there are two steps left on media literacy, to create and to act. Posting on social media, writing a blog, even creating a gif is creating media. To create media is to do something with what you’ve learned through any type of media. Now, acting on media is when you are influenced based on what you read online. If you can create and act with the media piece you are proving to be confidential, then it would most likely turn out to be just that.
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Using these five steps can benefit you in any way you use media. At school, at work or even when you use it to stay informed. If you fulfill these steps with any kind of media you suspect to be fake, you will be benefited from rightful and confidential information. Also, you will avoid being fooled by unreliable sources.
