Introduction
Welcome everyone! I’m Samantha Oakley from the Public Programs Office, and I’m excited to introduce today’s webinar on media literacy for adults. In this session, we will discuss the challenges of misinformation and disinformation and how libraries can help educate and support their communities in developing media literacy skills.
Virtual Classroom Etiquette
Before we begin, there are a couple of notes. As virtual classroom presenters, our microphones are accessible. Please type your questions in the Q&A box and send them. To access the Q&A window, move your cursor to the bottom of the Zoom window and click on Q&A. Please use the Q&A window for technical issues as well, as it can be easily missed in the chat window. Please note that this session is being recorded and will be available for review in the archive version. If you would like to review the information or share it, it will be sent to you within 48 hours after the session.
The Media Literacy Education Libraries for Adult Audiences Project
Today’s webinar is part of the Media Literacy Education Libraries for Adult Audiences project, which is designed to support libraries’ efforts in improving media literacy skills for adults. This project includes a suite of free media literacy resources, including a Practitioner’s Guide and a series of six webinars. In today’s webinar, we will have the pleasure of listening to Dr. Nicole Cook discuss misinformation and disinformation.
About Dr. Nicole Cook
Dr. Nicole Cook is an Augusta Baker Endowed Chair and an Associate Professor at the School of Information and Library Science, University of South Carolina. With research and teaching interests in human information behavior, fake news consumption, critical cultural information studies, and social justice librarianship, Dr. Cook brings extensive expertise to today’s discussion. She has been recognized for her work in combating online hate and bullying and has received numerous awards for her contributions to library diversity research and teaching.
The Challenge of Misinformation and Disinformation
Dr. Cook begins her presentation by acknowledging the challenge of dealing with misinformation and disinformation in today’s media landscape. She highlights the importance of media literacy education for adults, as information spreads quickly, making critical thinking skills more important than ever.
Moving Away from Fake News
Dr. Cook emphasizes the need to move away from the term “fake news” and instead use “misinformation” and “disinformation” to describe false information. She explains that “fake news” has become polarized and politicized, making it difficult to have meaningful discussions. By using more accurate terminology, libraries can assist patrons in identifying and evaluating reliable information.
Understanding Misinformation and Disinformation
Misinformation refers to false information that may be unintentional, occurring due to errors or misunderstandings. Disinformation, on the other hand, is deliberately false information created with the intent to mislead or harm. Dr. Cook provides examples of both, including misleading headlines, visual disinformation, deep fakes, and malinformation.
The Role of Language
Dr. Cook points out that language plays a crucial role in spreading and combating misinformation and disinformation. She highlights the concept of “truthiness,” where individuals may prefer concepts they wish to be true rather than facts they know to be true. This emotional and gut-reaction-based response to information can make it challenging to combat misinformation and disinformation effectively.
The Psychology of Misinformation and Disinformation
Dr. Cook discusses the psychological aspects of misinformation and disinformation and how people’s emotions can override rational thought and beliefs. She highlights the importance of information literacy in addressing these challenges and explains strategies such as vertical and lateral reading, which involve evaluating information from multiple sources.
Critical Thinking and Context
To combat fake news, Dr. Cook emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and understanding different sources and perspectives. She encourages libraries to teach patrons to think critically and consider context when consuming information. By encouraging intellectual humility and challenging biases, information professionals can better equip individuals with the skills needed to evaluate information.
Recommendations and Resources
Dr. Cook concludes her presentation by providing recommendations and resources for combating misinformation and disinformation. She recommends referring to the Media Literacy Guide by the Public Programs Office, which includes sample programs and lesson plans. Additionally, she suggests consulting books on media literacy and misinformation, such as “Fake News, Alternative Facts” and “Post-Truth: A guide for the perplexed.”
Q&A Session
In the last segment of the webinar, Dr. Cook answers questions from the audience, addressing topics such as the use of terms like “fake news”, communicating with the public, and the psychology of misinformation. She emphasizes the importance of remaining open-minded, using diverse sources, and continuing to learn in the ever-changing field of misinformation and disinformation.
Conclusion
The webinar on media literacy for adults provided valuable insights into the challenges of misinformation and disinformation. Dr. Nicole Cook’s expertise in the field allowed participants to gain a deeper understanding of these issues and learn practical strategies to combat them. By improving media literacy skills in libraries, we can empower our communities to navigate the information landscape more effectively, making them critical thinkers and responsible consumers of information.
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