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Media Literacy

Books, websites,and information on media literacy

Definitions

WHAT IS MEDIA LITERACY?

The National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) defines media literacy as “the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create and act using all forms of communication. In its simplest terms, media literacy builds upon the foundation of traditional literacy and offers new forms of reading and writing. Media literacy empowers people to be critical thinkers and makers, effective communicators and active citizens.”

-ALA Guide to Media Literacy

Common terms:

Misinformation: False information that is disseminated, regardless of intent to mislead.

Disinformation: Misinformation that is deliberately disseminated to mislead.

Fake news: False information, often of a sensational nature, that mimics news media content.

Continued influence effect: The continued reliance on inaccurate information in people’s memory and reasoning after a credible correction has been presented.

Illusory truth effect: Repeated information is more likely to be judged true than novel information because it has become more familiar.

-information from the Debunking Handbook, 2020. 

Types of Misinformation and Disinformation

chart of 7 types

Graphic from First Draft News.