Fake news and Covid - and resources for IGCA participants to become more media savvy

[Boyd Roberts]

The Covid-19 crisis has given rise to many conspiracy theories and outlandish ideas explaining its origins, and a great deal of incorrect information about anti-Covid measures, for instance about the “dangers” of wearing masks.

 

While the IGCA encourages participants to find out about outlooks different from their own, Covid-19 poses dangers for young minds. There are many people (and organisations) who are peddling ideas that are dangerous, ill-informed, incorrect, ignorant or simply malicious.

 

This seems a good time to alert IGCA participants to the need to be careful in their reading and research. There are people with bad intent who are trying to shape their minds.

 

How to Spot Fake News (and Teach Kids to Be Media-Savvy)

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/how-to-spot-fake-news-and-tea...

This gives a number of helpful tips and pointers for evaluating news and distinguishing fake news.

 

More useful tips in:

https://theconversation.com/how-to-spot-fake-news-an-experts-guide-...

 

How to spot fake news – a short article with tips from the Australian government.

https://beconnected.esafety.gov.au/quick-reads/how-to-spot-fake-news

 

In general, it is important for young people to become aware of the difference between different media sources in terms of reliability, impartiality, fact-checking, journalistic integrity etc. We can encourage them to get their news from reliable sources such as BBC, New York Times, respected local or national newspapers or websites.

We can also alert them to bias in organisations such as Fox News.