Media Literacy in the Digital Age

False information deliberately spread online.

The use of false or misleading information to gain an advantage or spread harmful ideas.

The ability to critically evaluate information presented through different media, including online sources.

A media literacy technique where you don't engage directly with a questionable source. Instead, you look for evidence and details about the source. You seek information from a different source or many different sources, using different sources across the network.

The difficulty in focusing on accurate information due to overwhelming amounts of misinformation.

The ability to find and use information from the internet and digital sources safely and effectively.

The dangerous tendency to get caught up in increasingly elaborate and often misleading discussions online.

The act of finding out details about the background of the information and the person or entity giving the information.

To capture attention and manipulate perspectives.

Deep engagement with information, focusing on its logic and inconsistencies.

Where attention is a valuable resource, exploited for profit.

A four-step process for evaluating information sources.

Stop and pause before accepting information.

Investigate the source of the information.

Find alternative, more reliable sources.

Trace claims and evidence back to original context.

Making decisions with limited information for better outcomes.

Trusted websites that help identify false or misleading information.

The trustworthiness and reliability of a source of information.

A systematic tendency to favor one interpretation of information over others.

Easily used, practical method for news consumption.

Accepting information without questioning.

A technique to track the origins and use of images.

Large corporations control a significant portion of the media landscape, influencing the content we consume.

News companies prioritize content that generates profit, often focusing on popular and mainstream views.

Corporations may discourage content that challenges mainstream views or profits, limiting diversity of opinion.

The largest media corporations exert significant control over local news outlets, impacting the information available.

Many local newspapers are struggling financially, leading to closures and limited access to community-specific news.

Non-profit news organizations strive for independent reporting, while for-profit outlets often prioritize profit over journalistic integrity.

Even non-profit news organizations can be influenced by corporate donors, potentially impacting their editorial independence.

Corporations shape the information we receive through their ownership of media outlets, impacting our understanding of the world.

Consuming news from diverse sources, including independent media, helps counter corporate dominance and provides a more comprehensive view.

Active participation through protests and direct action is crucial in challenging corporate dominance over media and information.

A method for evaluating information online, focusing on source, information, fact-checking, and timeliness.

The tendency to accept information that confirms existing beliefs and reject information that contradicts them.

The feeling of understanding complex information after brief exposure, even if actual understanding is limited.

Original materials directly related to a topic, like research papers or historical documents.

Unverified explanations for events, often involving secret plots and hidden motives.

Overconfidence in one's ability to understand and interpret information, especially complex or unfamiliar information.

The six major corporations controlling a majority of American media: AT&T, CBS, Comcast, Disney, Newscorp, and Viacom.

The existing state of affairs or the prevailing way of thinking.

Media organizations where primary goals are financial gain, potentially influencing content and coverage.

Our tendency to accept information that supports our existing beliefs and reject information that contradicts them.

The overarching story or perspective presented by media, which can be influenced by various factors.

Original materials like research papers, historical documents, or eyewitness accounts, directly related to a topic.

Verifying the accuracy of information, often using credible sources like reputable organizations or fact-checking websites.