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media literacy: distinguishing real news from fake fake news \fāk\ /n(y)ooz/ (n.): false information or propaganda published under the guise of being authentic news
Definition courtesy of Webopedia
Media should be held in higher regard Jack Mallery and Ayala Tzadikario On Feb. 24, 2017, President Donald Trump forced CNN, The New York Times and Politico to exit the White House press conference. Later, the president decided to host an invitationonly conference, excluding CNN and The New York Times because he felt that they were against him and release “fake news,” or news that is not factually correct. Throughout this past year, media has been under attack by the government and its people when the media attempts to expose truth. The media is not fake, and while it may contradict with other people's opinions or cause controversy, it is necessary that people acknowledge that it reports facts accurately. While there is unintentional bias in the media, it is still meant to be a source that reports only the truth. Journalists are expected to release only authentic and honest news to the public. Although every person has their own personal opinions, it is a reporter's job to put aside these biases and be objective. Journalistic standards such as fact-and quote-checking must be met in order to insure a media piece is reputable. This past election, hate toward certain media outlets has been generalized into a distrust of all media sources in general. President Trump and his cabinet have cultivated an anti-media atmosphere, oftentimes encouraging others to
ignore news sources that have articles they do not agree with. Trump has instigated a direct violation of the press’ rights under the First Amendment by kicking reputable news sources out of White House press conference and later creating an invite-only press conference. On Feb. 17, President Trump tweeted that the “fake news” was not only his enemy, but the enemy of the people as well. This type of rhetoric not only degrades news that tries to inform people, but it encourages others to do the same. The president should set an example for the people and cultivate a good relationship with the media, not slander its name. Sometimes bias against national or worldwide media sources is understandable, but this bias should never be against school newspapers or other student-run outlets. For example, at Townsend Harris High School at Queens College in New York, their newspaper, The Classic, was investigating interim Principal Rosemarie Jahoda. Two student reporters uncovered audiotapes of Jahoda harassing teachers, and when the story was published, it was called “fake news” by a Department of Education official. Student newspapers may not seem like an important resource for the news, but when they can produce potentially incriminating stories, they deserve to be held up as the truth, especially if there is evidence cited. People have resorted to labeling stories or facts as “fake news” when they challenge their authority or expose evidence that they disagree with. It may seem harmless to ignore student newspapers or think they don't matter, but school newspapers are the backbone of the media. School newspapers train young
reporters to search for the truth, and to base their findings in hard evidence that cannot be disputed. If facts don’t matter, and crucial stories are thrown aside at a moment's notice, then the media will cease to matter at all. Demonizing the media is making an enemy of the truth. By questioning the true facts that news sources print because they contradict people’s opinions, it is not hard to call all disliked facts false. Facts remain true, no matter the situation, and the news sources that release them should not be hated for releasing the truth to the public. Knowing these facts and situations is essential for our democracy and personal freedom. Especially in recent times, emotion in the face of opposing opinions and facts have led people to lash out at the media. This behavior undermines the work that the media does. From exposing the Pentagon Papers that revealed the United States could not win the Vietnam War, to taking down the biotech giant Theranos for doctoring research and ignoring failed safety checks, the media has always done its best to preserve the integrity of this country. Especially today, political beliefs and media sources have been locked in a constant battle of fact versus fiction. Instead of taking the news’ word for facts or studies, people have called out the news as liars, or created alternative facts to serve their own self-interests. Instead of submitting to these attacks, media sources need to stand up for their values and be even more aggressive in seeking out the truth. —Mallery, a junior, is the Assistant Business Manager and Tzadikario, a sophomore, is a reporter.
Media literacy education is essential, beneficial Jenna Marvet President Donald Trump shames news media, often blaming news agencies for propagating “fake news.” While his claims have been broad and reached beyond the truth, they have brought a real issue to the attention of many Americans: a lack of media literacy and an overly-trusting view of certain news agencies in the United States. A study conducted at the Stanford Graduate School of Education found that 30 percent of 7,804 high school and middle school students thought a fake news site was more trustworthy than a verified news site, and only a quarter of the students recognized and explained the significance of a verification check mark. During this turbulent time for news agencies, who are under scrutiny with the rise of actual fake news, and students’ malleable opinions at young ages, adults must educate students on media literacy at a young age to ensure that future generations are able to craft their own educated decisions and perspectives based on trustworthy sources. W hat comes to m i nd when ma ny Americans think of news is the image of the floating heads of political pundits blaring
their opinions on a certain topic, whether it be on CNN, Fox or MSNBC. For students who are looking for more deeply-researched news articles, investigative journalism is available on sites such as ProPublica, Center for Public Integrity and Real Clear Investigations. In modern history, investigative journalism has revealed corruption on local, state and national levels such as the Boston Globe’s reports on sexual abuse by priests and the Washington Post’s reveal of Nixon’s Watergate scandal. Adults should use these examples to educate youth about impactful and reliable journalism. Both investigative reporting and the act of fact-checking by news agencies have become more popular with the mainstream audience over the past year, keeping political figures accountable and the general population educated on the truth. During the election, events from stump speeches to national debates were meticulously fact-checked by a growing number of news agencies. In these cases, news media does inform the consumer and keep politicians and other public figures accountable. While President Trump may argue that certain news agencies have inherent biases, it is important for adults to teach students that, while it is important to be critical of the sources of information, one should not group every news agency that publishes truthful stories that may not cater to their specific view into the category of “fake news.” To ensure
an educated generation, adults must take it upon themselves to expose students to news that keeps them informed and allows them to make educated opinions, as well as teaching students how to find reliable sources of news media. This should start at home with parents: simple exposure to news, such as having a newspaper or printed articles available to children, will ensure that they are growing up with an understanding of print media. Discussing these articles together and talking about whether the source is credible or not will help the child understand what they are consuming and how to be critical when looking at news articles. While some media literacy is taught in schools, it should be more intensive. Proper citations for research should always be required, and current events should be shared regularly. English classes, and perhaps Living Skills, can teach students how to choose reliable sources and how to be a mindful consumer of news media. While President Trump’s statements regarding the news have been jarring, they have set in motion a new generation of media literate consumers. It is important that adults educate the next generation on how to make critical decisions about their news media so that they can craft their own opinions and understandings without falling prey to unreliable and biased sources. —Marvet, a senior, is a News Editor.