When it comes to news literacy, there are a number of initiatives to develop a student’s ability to separate fact from fiction.

 

This March, the Voice of San Diego announced the rollout their news literacy program in Chula Vista, California, to start a breeding ground of true journalism. Partnering with the Chula Vista Library and the South Bay Community Services, the Voice of San Diego is set to craft a unique curriculum to help students leverage technology in assessing news—whether about local government, public affairs, and the economy.

But for non-Chula Vista residents, news literacy can still be practiced. In this article, we’ll present a simple guide in acquiring the right skills and principles of news literacy.

Critical thinking skills

In Edutopia, The News Literacy Project Senior Vice President Peter Adams wrote that critical thinking skills are pivotal this 2014. Adams outlines two pitfalls that most students commit: digital native moments and digital naiveté moments. The first one happens when students only copy and paste digital elements, without necessarily knowing the real worth of information. Meanwhile, digital naiveté moments happen when they trust a questionable news source. To circumvent these mishaps, Adams outlines three core skill sets:

· Fact checking skills

In the classroom, Adams suggests that you display a wealth of information, wherein your students will verify the accuracy and sources. While it can be done individually, working as a class allows you to seek more answers and enlightenment.

· Current events skills

By allowing students to collect news from the papers or online, you’re able to test their skills in quality sourcing, context, and documentation.

· “The Power of Information”

On a daily basis, you can post a question on the bulletin board. Questions may range from topics such as the economy, the recent crisis, or the First Amendment protections in the United States.

Mobile applications

Today, mobile applications are also doing their share of promoting news literacy among students. An  article from Verizon’s Insider Guide said that there are four ways of acquiring new information:

· Breaking news

Verizon said that allowing your students to use tools such as the CNN App can expose them to how news is presented as it breaks A special feature available is the CNN iReport, where students can take part in the actual reporting by sharing pictures and videos.

· Centralized location

Verifying the validity and accuracy of reports is best done when browsing through multiple sources in one convenient platform. The article highly recommends the Pulse News app. Aside from pulling in reports from various websites, students are able to tailor them based on their interest.

· Intuitive layouts

Information analysis is best achieved when browsing through an intuitive interface. Aside from Flipboard, the Insider Guide underscores the intuitiveness of The Huffington Post app, allowing students to peruse chunks of information from its subsections such as the Healthy Living and the Huffington Post College.

· Audio factor

Some students are more inclined on consuming news by hearing, as opposed to reading. The NPR News App allows users to tune into any NPR station, from anywhere in the country.

“The Four D’s of Journalism”

In Poynter.org’s NewsTrust guide, “Think Like a Journalist: A News Literacy Guide,” Michael Bugeja introduces the idea of The Four D’s of Journalism. These four attributes—doubt, detect, discern, and demand—are what Bugeja believes to be the distinct traits leading reporters into the journalism profession.

· Doubt

It evokes curiosity, wherein students must not take everything they read at face value. Bugeja believes that this plays a huge part of a journalist’s profile—having a healthy skepticism that questions everything, especially the unfamiliar beliefs.

· Detect

This refers to the saying that journalists have the “nose for news,” wherein they chase stories and verify insider tips—all in the bid to pursue the truth. They play as detectives who solve the mystery by finding the missing puzzle piece.

· Discern

Discern involves the critical thinking skills discussed above, wherein students must find a fair balance in analyzing news. This is in line with one of the major principles in journalism—objectivity.

· Demand

The idea of demand revolves around the freedom of information and high ethical standards based on five principles: common good, plagiarism, invention, good taste and conflicts of interests.

With this simple guide, you’ll be able to guide students to be more reliable news analysts. Who knows, this skill might lead them in pursuing a profession in journalism someday.

About the Author

As a blogger, Jennifer Birch uses her journalistic views to ensure that her stories are of the highest quality. Before writing, she makes it a point to collate all information from reliable sources, and fact checks them for inconsistencies. Contact Jenni on and .  

Categories: Good to Know, News & Updates, Tips for Teachers