This document discusses the importance of news literacy and critical thinking skills in the digital age. It notes that with information overload online, it can be difficult to determine what is true or false. The document provides tips on how to evaluate online information sources and articles for credibility, such as checking for author credentials, citations, biases, verification from other sources, and outrageous or misleading claims. It emphasizes that as information spreads more quickly online, it is important for people to take an active role in verifying information and considering multiple perspectives rather than just information that confirms their own beliefs.

1. News Literacy
Critical Thinking Skills
in the Digital Age

4.  “Sponsored Content” indicate the article is paid
for by a commercial company - it is an
advertisement
 Coupon codes, discount information, special
offers or any mention of cost - advertisement
 A small X in the corner – advertisement
 An article with an author is less likely to be an
advertisement, but look for credentials

6. Who is the author?
What are his/her credentials?
Who took the photograph?
How do you know where this was taken?
Could this image be altered?

9. Information overload – how do you know
what is true or false?
Creating & sharing
“authoritative-looking”
information is easy!

10. In the digital age, speed seems to matter
more than accuracy (Twitter, FB, etc.)
Many online “articles” are sponsored ads
Fake news is very profitable!
Fake information is often spread through
sensational headlines!!!
Fake news can have serious
consequences…

11. “A North Carolina man was arrested Sunday after he walked into a popular
pizza restaurant in Northwest Washington carrying an assault rifle and fired
one or more shots, D.C. police said. The man told police he had come to
the restaurant to “self-investigate” a false election-related conspiracy theory
involving Hillary Clinton that spread online during her presidential
campaign. “ Washington Post, Dec. 5th, 2016.

12.  Is the author’s name missing?
 Is the author missing credentials?
 What does the “About Us” page reveal?
 Are there citations, links and references to the
original sources used?
 Are there spelling and grammar mistakes?

13.  Are there direct quotes taken out of context
or used to mislead you?
 Can this information be verified through other
sources online?
 Is the article showing both sides of an issue?
 Does the headline match the content of the
article?
 Is the story ridiculously outrageous?

14.  People prefer information that supports their own
beliefs.
 The internet and social media make it easier for
us to live in a filtered information bubble.
 Could this make us a more divided nation?

15.  Informed Citizens are essential to good government
 There is public value to sharing accurate, newsworthy
information
 The internet & social media has changed the way people
receive news
 Not all information online is accurate or of high quality
 People have to take an active role verifying information & bias
 Consider your own bias; it is better to be informed on both
sides of an issue before you come to a conclusion

16.  Democrat vs Republican Logo. Digital image. Think Design: Spinning Designs
Ideas. ThinkDesign, 6 June 2017. Web.
 Hornik, Richard. "Why News Literacy Matters." Digital Resource Center: Center for
News Literacy. Stony Brook University, n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
 Kirschenbaum, Michele. "10 Ways to Spot a Fake News Article." EasyBib. Chegg, 4
Jan. 2017. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
 Los Angeles Times. "Websites That Publish Fake News Make Money and Suffer No
Consequences." Newsela | Websites That Publish Fake News Make Money and
Suffer No Consequences. Newselacom, 17 Jan. 2017. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
 Paranada, Daryl. "A List of Fact-checking Websites." Marketplace. American Public
Media, 30 Aug. 2012. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
 Siddique, Faiz, and Susan Svrluga. "N.C. Man Told Police He Went to D.C. Pizzeria
with Gun to Investigate Conspiracy Theory." The Washington Post. WP Company, 5
Dec. 2017. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
 Stanford History Education Group. "Evaluating Information: The Corner Stone of
Civic Online Reasoning." (n.d.): n. pag. Stanford History Educational Group.
Stanford University, 22 Nov. 2016. Web.