News Literacy TaskSet

These TwFs (Tasks with Feedback) support learning of news literacy.

1. How can you tell if a news article follows journalistic ethics? In priority order, what are the most important things to look for?

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   Determining whether a news article follows journalistic ethics requires a critical assessment of several factors. Here’s a priority order of the most important things to look for:

   1. Accuracy and Factual Reporting: The most crucial element of ethical journalism is accuracy. Ensure that the article presents verifiable and well-sourced facts. Look for multiple sources and cross-references, and check if the information is consistent with established facts.

   2. Objectivity and Impartiality: Ethical journalism should strive to provide a balanced perspective without bias or personal opinion. Check for signs of sensationalism, editorializing, or slant in language, and assess whether different viewpoints are represented fairly.

   3. Transparency and Attribution: Verify that the article clearly cites its sources and provides proper attribution for quotes, statistics, and data. Transparency about the sources used is a key component of journalistic ethics.

   4. Independence and Freedom from Influence: Investigate whether the news outlet or journalist appears to be influenced by political, corporate, or other external interests. Ethical journalism should maintain independence from such influences.

   5. Contextual Reporting: Assess whether the article provides sufficient context to help readers understand the broader picture. Lack of context can distort the meaning of a story and lead to misinterpretation.

   6. Verification and Fact-Checking: Ethical journalism involves rigorous fact-checking and verification of information before publication. Look for signs that the article has undergone thorough editorial scrutiny.

   7. Ethical Sourcing and Privacy: Ensure that the article respects the privacy and dignity of individuals mentioned, especially in sensitive or controversial stories. Consider whether the information was obtained ethically and legally.

   8. Corrections and Accountability: Check if the news outlet is willing to acknowledge and correct errors promptly when they are discovered. Ethical journalism holds itself accountable for mistakes.

   9. Editorial Independence: Assess whether the news outlet maintains editorial independence and safeguards its journalists’ freedom to report on issues of public interest without undue interference.

   10. Diversity and Inclusivity: Ethical journalism should reflect the diversity of perspectives and voices in society. Consider whether the article includes a range of viewpoints and avoids discrimination or stereotypes.

   11. Sensitivity and Responsible Reporting: Ethical journalism should exercise care and sensitivity when reporting on topics such as tragedy, crime, or vulnerable individuals. It should avoid sensationalism and prioritize the well-being of those affected.

   12. Plagiarism and Copyright Compliance: Ensure that the article does not plagiarize content from other sources and respects copyright laws by obtaining permission or providing proper attribution.

   13. Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: Investigate whether the journalist or news outlet discloses any potential conflicts of interest that could influence their reporting.

   14. Editorial Guidelines and Codes of Ethics: Many reputable news organizations have established editorial guidelines and codes of ethics that their journalists follow. Familiarize yourself with these guidelines, if available, and check if the article adheres to them.

   15. Public Accountability and Feedback Mechanisms: Ethical news outlets should have mechanisms for receiving and addressing public feedback and complaints about their reporting.

   It’s important to approach news articles with a critical and discerning eye, and to consider multiple sources and viewpoints to get a more well-rounded understanding of a topic. No single factor alone can guarantee the ethical quality of an article, so it’s best to evaluate articles holistically by considering these criteria.

2. What is a conspiracy theory?

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   A conspiracy theory is a belief or claim that secretive groups covertly work towards harmful goals, typically unsupported by sufficient evidence.

   Note: It would be better to say “conspiracy hypothesis” because a conspiracy theory represents someone’s “educated guess” at the cause of something. In general, theory is used to describe a conclusion that has massive evidence and justification to support it. However, the term “conspiracy theory” is the common usage.

3. Compare and contrast accuracy and objectivity in journalism.

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   Differences

   Feature	Accuracy	Objectivity
   Definition	Correctness and precision of information	Fairness and impartiality in presenting information
   Focus	Facts, details, data	Reporter’s approach and tone
   Importance	Ensures reliable information	Ensures unbiased information
   Relationship	Both crucial for ethical journalism
   Contrast	Deals with factual correctness	Deals with impartiality and neutrality
   Example (just this)	Factually correct report with biased framing	Balanced report with incorrect facts

   Similarities

   • Crucial for credible journalism: Both are needed to ensure trust and respect from an audience who knows how to evaluate credible journalism.

   • Informed Public: Both are needed for a well informed public.

   • Effortful: Both require editing, fact check, caring, and so on.

   • Ethical: Both are essential elements of ethical practice by journalists.

   Summary

   • Accuracy ensures factual correctness; Objectivity ensures fairness and neutrality — both are distinct but essential qualities.

   • A report can be accurate yet biased, or objective yet factually incorrect, showing the need for both.

   • Together, they uphold ethical journalism, foster public trust, and support an informed society.