Getting your facts straight: Tips on media literacy

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<p><em>Cornell University Library’s <a href="https://guides.library.cornell.edu/evaluate_news"><em>guide to media literacy</em></a> starts with a quote from the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan: “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.”</em></p> <p><em>With election season in high gear, </em>Cornellians<em> tapped both the library’s online resources and the staffer who helps maintain them—reference librarian <a href="https://guides.library.cornell.edu/prf.php?account_id=9250"><em>Michael Engle</em></a>—to compile a primer on how to identify reliable sources of information, on social media and the Internet overall.</em></p> <p><em>So as you peruse the news, make sure to …</em></p> <p>With little or no fact checking, misinformation (inaccurate info) and disinformation (falsehoods deliberately intended to deceive) can spread like wildfire on social media.</p> <p>Platforms like Facebook and Instagram may be great for sharing pet photos and recipes—but they’re notoriously unreliable sources of quality news.</p> <img width="1024" src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024_1417_Ho…; alt=""> <p>Some websites spread disinformation in a particularly sneaky way: by disguising themselves as reputable and familiar news sources.</p> <p>For example, the <em>New York Times</em>’s actual URL is nytimes.com; a site trying to pass itself off as the <em>Times</em> might have a similar design, but its URL has a subtle variation in spelling or a different ending.</p> <p>Articles from credible news sources go through a rigorous editing process. If the text is riddled with spelling and grammatical errors, it’s a telltale sign that the source may not be legitimate.</p> <img width="727" src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024_1417_Ho…; alt=""> <p>Before you forward an article or share it on social media, take a deep breath—especially if it got you fired up.</p> <p>Since sparking an emotional reaction is a primary goal of purveyors of misinformation, such content merits extra scrutiny.</p> <p>Once you’ve ascertained that a news source is legitimate, search within that site rather than googling the topic; that way, you don’t have to repeatedly check for credibility.</p> <p>And as much as possible, avoid relying on social media for news—since their algorithms are designed to reinforce your views rather than provide a balanced perspective.</p> <p>Cross-check information with multiple reputable sources. Getting info from a variety of sources can also provide a broader perspective on an issue, giving you a more complete understanding of the topic.</p> <img width="938" src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024_1417_Ho…; alt=""> <p>To be an astute news consumer, you need to understand the proper use of data and statistics—and the ways in which they can be manipulated or misrepresented to support a particular view.</p> <p>Among the resources the library recommends are the TED talk “<a href="https://datajournalism.com/read/handbook/one/understanding-data/become-… Ways to Spot a Bad Statistic</a>” and the article “<a href="https://datajournalism.com/read/handbook/one/understanding-data/become-… Data Literate in 3 Simple Steps</a>.”</p> <p>Contrary to the way the term has been misapplied in recent years, “fake news” is not a synonym for facts that some people prefer not to believe.</p> <p>Its narrow meaning refers to fabricated information that mimics journalism, but was produced without the proper editorial standards and processes.</p> <img width="1024" src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024_1417_Ho…; alt=""> <p>Credible news sites offer a variety of content; not every article is solely fact-based, though these should be clearly labeled.</p> <p>For example, op-eds and reviews offer individual viewpoints, while analysis pieces provide context and background to help readers understand a topic.</p> <p>Avoid relying solely on one type of media, such as TV, radio, podcasts, or print (whether on paper or online).</p> <p>A variety of sources and formats offer a more comprehensive view.</p> <p>Fact-checking websites can help determine the validity of a claim.</p> <p>Reputable ones include <a href="https://www.factcheck.org/">factcheck.org</a&gt; (run by the nonprofit Annenberg Public Policy Center); <a href="https://www.snopes.com/">snopes.com</a&gt;, a member of the International Fact Checking Network; <a href="https://www.politifact.com/">PolitiFact</a&gt;, run by the Poynter Institute, a global journalism nonprofit; and the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/fact-checker/"><em>Washington Post</em> Fact Checker</a>.</p> <p><em>This story was republished from</em><a href="https://alumni.cornell.edu/cornellians/media-literacy-tips/"&gt; Cornellians</a><em>. Illustrations by Caitlin Cook / Cornell University</em>.</p> <p><a href="https://news.cornell.edu/">Additional news from across the university</a></p> </div>