News literacy is a skill set closely linked to media literacy. News literacy encompasses a few specific skills, including estimating the trustworthiness of articles, applying information techniques and critically reflecting on the underlying political or ideological messages.
The news tells us what is happening in the world. We get up with it in the morning and go to sleep with it in the evening. Being able to assess news critically is therefore a basic skill that comes in handy every day. Especially now that the internet and new technologies makes it easier to fall victim to fake news and deepfakes, news literacy is more important than ever.
Deepfakes are video images that are combined through artificial intelligence. The resultant video may look very real, but it’s actually the opposite.
News literacy is the ability to consult, evaluate and contribute to news media in various ways. News literacy is not very different from media literacy, but news is a particular type of media content. Rather than personal or artistic accounts, the news deals with facts.
In accordance with the definition of media literacy according to the Mediawijs Competency Model, news literacy can be defined as follows:
News literacy means:
Ever since the 2016 presidential elections in the US, there is more awareness of the dangers of fake news. Fake news is regularly addressed in the media, and various initiatives have been taken to help people recognise fake news. These are good things, but there is a flipside to the coin:
“Research shows that people who are sceptical about the news are less likely to consume news, and that they have the feeling the media are doing something to them rather than vice versa. As if the media have control over them.”
Repeatedly emphasising that news is not always true can seemingly lead to a boomerang effect. It may engender a certain cynicism and distrust. Those who are too critical of news media are also more likely to consult alternative, less trustworthy media. Even so, critical thinking remains important for self-sufficiency: youngsters who feel like they can critically assess the news are more likely to consult the news and have a higher esteem of the importance of news literacy.
