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Between hearing opinions at home, talking with friends, learning from teachers, and reading the news online, students/kids have a lot of information to sift through, especially about our elections and why they matter. If you feel overwhelmed or depressed by the news environment, you’re not alone! According to Common Sense Media's report, News and America's Kids: How Young People Perceive and Are Impacted by the News, 63% of kids feel scared and depressed about the news.
News Literacy 101
So where do you start when you’re overwhelmed? With the basics.
Media literacy is the ability to identify different types of media and understand the messages they're sending, and that starts with asking questions. News literacy is a subset of media literacy focused on helping people to process and understand news media messages, to locate more factual and credible information, and to think critically about what counts as news. News literacy is also about recognizing that quality, credible, independent news and journalism are critical components of any free and democratic society. Digital citizenship is a way of thinking, being, and acting online that makes us all better users of the internet. With some key questions, you can train your brain to think critically about information. With strong media-literacy skills, you'll be able to identify trustworthy sources.
Here are some practical tips to help you become a smart consumer of the news:
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Be skeptical, not cynical. You probably already know that not everything you read on the internet is true, so it’s important to critically consider whether your sources are trustworthy. But that doesn’t mean you have to distrust everything. While it's important to be open-minded, in today's world it's also important to think critically about everything you read -- but don't become cynical.
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Understand different types of content. There are lots of news sources and types of published information: investigative journalism, research studies, opinion pieces, blogs, punditry, evening news, and so on.
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You will hear about the news at home, at school, and in other communities you’re a part of. Word-of-mouth stories and rumors aren't always true. If you’ve ever played an old-school game of telephone, you know how information can get twisted along the way.
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Know the difference between fact and opinion.
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There are differences between established news organizations that follow certain professional standards and every other type of publisher. Check for scope statements, editorial independence statements, and mission statements to investigate a source.
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Watch out for viral videos. They may or may not contain nuggets of real news, but they rarely represent the whole situation. And, like photos, videos can be doctored and edited to bend the truth. Check out Photoshop fails for visual examples.
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Think about bias and the concept of objectivity. There's usually more than one side to a story.
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Interrogate the source. Think about where your news is coming from. This is a good list of things to consider when you see or hear news:
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Who made this?
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Why did they make it?
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Is it for or against something or someone?
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Are they trying to get a big reaction from me or just inform me? How can I tell?
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Is anyone else reporting this news?
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Look for signs that the source is legit and not fake, such as a clear "About Us" section and a standard URL (for example, ".com" instead of ".com.co").
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Use a reputable fact checking website or tool if you're not sure how to fact check the info yourself.
News and Politics
News literacy is also about recognizing that quality, credible, independent news and journalism are critical components of any free and democratic society. News and politics have been reshaped by social media and 24-hours news entertainment. As a result, there's a lot of crossover between what we think of as news literacy, media literacy, and digital citizenship. Watching or reading reputable news sources is one way you can ensure you are getting accurate information (to an extent). Common Sense Media put together a list of the best new sites for students to help you find respected news outlets.
In an election year, there is a lot of information floating around social media and TV. Practicing media literacy can help you to decipher the information and make sure you don’t share something that’s untrue. Aside from just watching the news, there are other ways you can learn more about elections such as by checking for your candidates on Ballotpedia or using their page on how to learn about local elections. Also check out the Common Sense Media article on the 9 Ways to Learn About State and Local Elections.
Want to Learn More?
Common Sense has put together a number of resources teachers can use to help teach the practice of news literacy, and you can use them too! In this collection, you'll find hand-picked, regularly updated resources to help you better understand and practice news literacy. The list includes some of our favorite videos, downloadables, and games organized by a few key topic areas, like fact-checking, breaking news, and the ethics of journalism.
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