EXERCISES 1_M2. : GOOD MEDIA CONSUMPTION HABITS
1. GOOD MEDIA CONSUMPTION HABITS
Become a Fact Checker
The media landscape is becoming increasingly complex; even for media professionals, it is difficult to discern the veracity and reliability of the content. Moreover, journalistic formats and genres are becoming more and more hybrid. So, what can we do?
Don’t you think we must first analyse our media consumption habits to have a good media diet?
Don’t forget that knowing our routines is the best way to identify mistakes and successes in them and thus propose new, healthier practices.
We invite you to reflect on and freely explain your media consumption habits.
Have you ever thought about how many comments or reviews you read before buying something or watching a TV movie? Try to practice the same with media; it doesn’t matter if it is a digital native or traditional media.
Take on the role of a fact checker and verify the content you will consume. Here are some steps that the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) advises us to follow autonomously to verify news and other information that we find mainly on social media.
1) Consider the source.
2) Check who the author is.
3) Check the date of publication.
4) Consider our biases.
5) Read further.
6) Additional sources.
7) Is this a joke?
8) Consult experts.
CASE STUDY 1:
Buzzfeed is a trendy medium with simple language aimed at young people in a format of permanent innovation. But you probably don’t know the original Buzzfeed News.
1. Go to the two websites:
2. Compare
Compare the sections, headlines, and images illustrating the content, language, writing structure and the most important elements: the focus and objective of the news. Are the topics of conversation and news coverage similar?
Write down some of the impressions following this review.
While one specialises in entertainment, the other focuses on hard news. Many of the contents coincide, but the treatment of the information differs. However, when the news is serious, with an impact, the entertainment website redirects to the news website.
3. Go to their "Personal Brand" and the "About us" section.
Write down some of the impressions following this review.
In this section, you can find their media background, editorial line, sponsors, shareholders, staff information, branches, awards, lait motives, etc.
4. Find their social accounts on various platforms and check them.
Media and journalists want to be on social media to get a broad audience, find their social accounts on various platforms and check them. Are they verified? Is the content on their website and networks up to date and consistent?
Write down any findings you have made about the social networks of these media outlets. Report to the appropriate social network if you have found any fake accounts, and consider blocking unofficial profiles that may harm you, your readers and the media itself.
5. Go to Kelsey Weekman's profile
Go to Kelsey Weekman’s profile (journalist at BuzzFeed News) and judge for yourself the reliability of this journalist.
Check the following:
- If Kelsey has her page with all the items she has reported.
- If there is an email or other form of communication, contact her.
- Look for her professional social media accounts. You should find consistency between her current post and Buzzfeed posts, latest comments, followers, whether her account is verified, and bio description.
Please, write your reflection here.
In particular, journalists want to be in touch with their readers or users. There are usually different ways to contact them or to find out more about their CV and career.
CASE STUDY 2:
For comparison, do the same exercise as above, but with the news media NEWS PUNCH.
1. Go to the website:
2. Look
Look at the sections, headlines, and images illustrating the content, language, writing structure and the most important elements: the focus and objective of the news item.
Write down some of the impressions following this review.
3. Go to your "personal brand" in the "About us" section.
Write down some of the impressions following this review.
4. Try to contact or find information about the following journalists who write the stories: Niamh Harris or Baxter Dmitry.
Check the following:
- If Niamh Harris and Bexter Dimitry have their page with all the items you have reported.
- If there is an email or other form of communication, contact them.
- Look for their professional social media accounts. You should find consistency between their current and current posts on the medium, the latest comments, the followers if their account is verified, and the biography description.
Please, write your reflection here.
CASE STUDY 3:
Do this exercise again with some of the media you regularly consume and check how reliable they are as reference sources of information.
Review the list of media you consume and reflect on your media consumption habits to date.
1. Go to the website.
2. Look
Look at sections, headlines, and images illustrating the content, language, editorial structure and the most important elements: the focus and objective of the news.
Write down some of the impressions following this review.
3. Go to your "personal brand" and the "About us" section.
Write down some of the impressions following this review.
4. Try to contact or find information about some of the journalists who write for these media.
Check the following:
- if the journalists have their page with all the items you have reported.
- If there is an email or other form of communication, contact them.
- Look for their professional social media accounts. You should find consistency between their current and current posts on the medium, the latest comments, the followers if their account is verified, and the biography description.
