News Literacy and Verification Quiz

Study Notes

News literacy is the ability to determine the credibility of news and information using the standards of quality journalism.
News literacy is foundational for media literacy.

Verification is a process for checking the credibility and reliability of newsworthy information before it is published or broadcast as news.
One of journalism's most treasured clichés is "If your mother says she loves you, check it out."

Provenance: Are you looking at the original account, article, or piece of content?
Source: Who created the account or article, or captured the original piece of content?
Date: When was it created?
Location: Where was the account established, the website created, or piece of content captured?
Motivation: Why was the account established, the website created, or the piece of content captured?

People are more likely to share misinformation when it aligns with personal identity or social norms, when it is novel, or when it elicits strong emotions.

Examining the provenance of information is the most important check in the verification process.
If you are not looking at the content in its original form, you could miss how the content first appeared.

Who is the uploader: Explore other content uploaded by the account.
Account's Purpose: Does it make sense that the person who holds the account was near the location when the event took place?
Contact Information: Can you find a phone number or email address to speak to the source directly?

Do a quick search: Conduct a simple search for information about a news source to evaluate its credibility.
Look for standards: Reputable news organizations adhere to ethical guidelines and standards including fairness, accuracy, and independence.
Check for transparency: Quality news sources should be transparent about their reporting practices, ownership, and funding.
Examine how errors are handled: Credible news sources are accountable for mistakes and correct them.
Assess news coverage: Read and assess several news articles from the source.

The game "Bad News" exposes tactics and manipulation techniques used to mislead people and build a following.
Playing "Bad News" builds cognitive resistance against common forms of online manipulation.