Media Literacy and Fake News (1 Viewer)

[Ayo]

The Canadian Journalism Federation is taking fake news very seriously. I've worked with media literacy for years, and this is - to date - the most expansively public approach that I've seen, in advance of the Federal Election.

Journalism group launches anti-fake news campaign ahead of Canadian election

Recent polling suggests nearly all Canadians have come across misinformation online, yet only 40 per cent feel they know how to differentiate between fake news and the real thing.

www.thestar.com

If you are engaged online, you have likely been subjected to something that was not true, and yet there isn't much pursuit in trying to determine factual accuracy of the articles and information. And most of us - probably every single one of us here - have fallen for it.

Recent polling by Ipsos, Earnscliffe Strategy Group and MIT researchers suggests nearly all Canadians have come across misinformation online, yet only 40 per cent feel they know how to differentiate between fake news and the real thing.

The polls also found 90 per cent of Canadians admitted to falling for fake news in the past, and only a third of them regularly check to see if the stories they’re consuming are legitimate.

I don't think that their approach is going to be enough. I think the most effective utility it will have is bringing awareness. But fuller approaches to media literacy are going to be necessary to combat the deluge of increasingly deceptive media. These are hard skills that can be learned, but with the advent of new 'deep fake' technology, media literacy is going to have adapt, too.

I would like to see greater emphasis on media literacy in the US. Because even though this statement is for the Canadian audience, it definitely - maybe even more so - applies to the US where news is more infotainment and sensationalized than it is up here:

“To be an engaged citizen, you have to have access to quality journalism… you have to understand what is quality journalism and what is not,” said Richard Gingras, vice-president of Google News.

Another source includes one approach - the SPOT approach: https://www.manitoulin.ca/news-media-canada-launches-new-tool-to-help-people-spot-fake-news/

SPOT is an acronym that acts as a simple way to remember the four principles of identifying misinformation. It works like this:
S: Is this a credible source? Check the source of the article—and be skeptical.
P: Is the perspective biased? Think critically and look for varying viewpoints on an issue.
O: Are other sources reporting the same story? Be your own fact-checker and verify the validity of the story.
T: Is the story timely? Check the date the story was published—sometimes, stories use old information to take advantage of a timely occurrence.

It's obviously not enough, but a decent start.

 

[TheRealTruth]

They did it , 99% sure

Yeesh, what's next? People looting target and CNN calls it shoppers getting great discounts at Target.

 

[BobE]

Yeesh, what's next? People looting target and CNN calls it shoppers getting great discounts at Target.

There is another one that was on twitter on a guy from MSNBC standing in front of a burning building as he was saying "it's a peaceful protest". This was from a few weeks ago.

 

[The moose]

Was this a meme or was it something CNN actually did?

Well how exactly is that untrue?

Do you think all protesting started fires? Half? Or say like just a few?

So what would you say is the cut off point where mostly would not be accurate?

 

[Brennan77]

Well how exactly is that untrue?

Do you think all protesting started fires? Half? Or say like just a few?

So what would you say is the cut off point where mostly would not be accurate?

 

[The moose]

No man so you are saying all protesting started fires or over fifty percent!

If not than that I'd exactly accurate!

I am not saying all white 17 year old males will shoot you with an long gun because they are afraid am I because that would be the same thing

 

[cuddlemonkey]

Seems that the RNC used footage from a protest in Spain from last fall in an ad talking about "Biden's America."

RNC airs video clip of ‘Biden’s America’ — it was actually Barcelona

The video, which appeared during Monday night’s event, shows footage from 2019 protests in Spain.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[FullMonte]

So the fire makes the caption "Fiery but mostly peaceful protests after police shooting" inaccurate?

Exactly what word should they use to describe a protest involving a fire?

Or does the image of a single fire mean that at least 50.1% of the protests were not peaceful?

 

[Farb]

CNN: Rand Paul and his wife enjoying a mostly lovely walk on a nice night in Washington DC.

 

[Farb]

Exactly what word should they use to describe a protest involving a fire?

Riot?

 

[The moose]

Riot?

Well considering an armed minor asshat from the other side of the argument mowed people down the next day are you certain the fires were started by protesting people?

Do you see your failed logic?

Do you see that the way fox news spoon feeds you hate is not the same as other networks?

 

[Farb]

I am just excited you guys are actually admitting there have been riots. For the last 3 months, we have been told they are protests and there was not violence at all and we were all 'crazy' and racist for saying so.

And no, protesters don't set fires. Rioters and Looters set fires and vandalize private property.

Either protesters are rioters or they are not the same. You cant pick and choose as the narrative evolves.

 

[The moose]

I am just excited you guys are actually admitting there have been riots. For the last 3 months, we have been told they are protests and there was not violence at all and we were all 'crazy' and racist for saying so.

And no, protesters don't set fires. Rioters and Looters set fires and vandalize private property.

Either protesters are rioters or they are not the same. You cant pick and choose as the narrative evolves.

I never said riot.

Maybe you can explain the armed children.

 

[Farb]

I never said riot.

Maybe you can explain the armed children.

I know you didn't. Neither has CNN but with the polling going a different than the Dems thought on cities being burned, I would imagine you will be saying riots in about a week, once the media are forced to actually cover them.

Children? He was 17. The Dems want 16 year old to vote, correct?
Besides, his activities were mostly peaceful I would think. At least 50% of time there he was not firing his weapon in self defense.

 

[The moose]

I know you didn't. Neither has CNN but with the polling going a different than the Dems thought on cities being burned, I would imagine you will be saying riots in about a week, once the media are forced to actually cover them.

Children? He was 17. The Dems want 16 year old to vote, correct?
Besides, his activities were mostly peaceful I would think. At least 50% of time there he was not firing his weapon in self defense.

Would you call after the Rodney King verdict a riot?

Then lf you do then please explain how what is going on right now is the same.

It is not even remotely the same.

 

[cuddlemonkey]

CNN: Rand Paul and his wife enjoying a mostly lovely walk on a nice night in Washington DC.

What does this have to do with media bias?

 

[Dragon]

I know you didn't. Neither has CNN but with the polling going a different than the Dems thought on cities being burned, I would imagine you will be saying riots in about a week, once the media are forced to actually cover them.

Children? He was 17. The Dems want 16 year old to vote, correct?
Besides, his activities were mostly peaceful I would think. At least 50% of time there he was not firing his weapon in self defense.

Voting doesn't kill people - he DID - twice!

 

[Ayo]

I've seen videos of mattresses on fire in the middle of a street. I don't get the point, but I also don't think it's necessarily a riot.

 

[TheRealTruth]

I've seen videos of mattresses on fire in the middle of a street. I don't get the point, but I also don't think it's necessarily a riot.

Buildings and businesses set on fire are done by rioters. And I believe the mattress video you might be talking about were those protesters that set a homeless man's mattress ablaze, for what reason I do not know.

Outrage follows video of homeless man’s bed set on fire during George Floyd protests in Austin

A homeless Austin man had his bed set on fire during weekend protests in the state capital, but viewers are skeptical that the suspects were actually part of the nationwide George Floyd protests.

www.ksat.com