News Media Literacy Can Help Overcome Information Overload
Noted Practitioner-Scholar Explains the Process
Media Contacts:
Becky Simon, LWVIL President, communications@lwvil.org
Anne Sullivan and Barb Laimins, LWVIL Mis/Disinformation Task Force Co-Chairs, misdisinfotaskforce@lwvil.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHICAGO, IL, June 3, 2024 – We live in a society so overloaded with information that we seldom take the time to think deeply about whether or not the content is accurate, according to Michael Spikes, PhD, a practitioner-scholar who has spent more than 15 years in the fields of media literacy education, news media literacy and youth media.
He presented a virtual program titled “Sense of Media: A Framework and Introduction to Media Literacy” at a virtual program sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Illinois’ Mis/Disinformation Task Force on Wednesday, May 22.
“We're swimming in so much information that it becomes difficult to question the source of the news and the veracity of what is being claimed,” he said. “A process combining verification, independence and accountability can help people separate the truth from false information.
During his presentation, Dr. Spikes elaborated on these key points:
The verification process seeks to establish or confirm truth and accuracy. Journalists must collect evidence to provide the most accurate version of any given event, and to do so they must support the claims made in any story with multiple pieces of evidence. Preferably, that evidence should be direct, not hearsay, and would emanate from a primary source or sources with knowledge of what occurred.
Independence in news reporting means that the publication itself is free from the control or influence of interested parties and has a system of checks and balances in place to prevent it. A mayor, for example, may be hesitant to inform a reporter of certain information that portrays him or the city in an unfavorable light. We could say this person lacks a certain independence from campaign donors to tell the full truth. Other examples are the proliferation of quasi-news outlets, often called “pink slime,” when a newspaper or website content appears to be factual but takes a position on an issue to please a funder.
Media accountability can help reputable media outlets build greater trust with their audiences. Many journalism organizations also have ethics codes (here, for example, is the Society of Professional Journalists’). This reflects the fact that reputable news organizations have standards, and when those standards are violated, corrections and consequences follow—or should. Factual errors and misspellings happen. When they do, the news outlet should clarify to readers or viewers any editorial mistakes and what was done to correct those mistakes.
Dr. Spikes also addressed the concept of the “illusory truth effect,” where there’s a tendency to believe false information after repeated exposure. An example is the use of satire, which is literary writing that exposes or ridicules conduct, doctrines or institutions either by direct criticism or more often through irony, parody or caricature. For satire to be effective, people need to have a shared set of knowledge on matters like current events so they can get the joke.
The presentation can be viewed at lwvil.org/misdis-info.
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Founded in 1919, the League of Women Voters of Illinois is a nonpartisan organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy and does not support or oppose any political parties or candidates. With over 100 years of experience and more than 800 local and state affiliations, the League is one of America’s most trusted grassroots organizations. Membership in the League is open to people ages 16 and over. For further information, visit lwvil.org.
To address the troubling rise of misinformation and disinformation—and its impact on our elections—the League of Women Voters of Illinois formed the Mis/Disinformation Task Force in January 2024 with the goal of educating the general public on misinformation and disinformation. For more information, visit lwvil.org/misdis-info.