Being online connects you to the world and a wealth of information. But as we click between lit-up screens that share daily news from around the corner to around the world, it’s important to identify sources, evaluate the purpose of the information they share, identify common types and forms of bias, and learn to sort through the noise to prioritize sources that seek to inform us by sharing information in a way that is fair and accurate.
We’ve all been duped by false or misleading information online, leaving us feeling overwhelmed to the point of throwing up our hands. Should we be distrustful of everything? Is the Internet to blame? To tackle these large questions, OATS from AARP is working with The News Literacy Project, a nonpartisan education nonprofit. As we approach election season and the holidays, the following workshops and discussions can help everyone ease into the next few months feeling calm, cool, and ready to spot misinformation!
In October, News Literacy Project will be offering two sessions to help :
- On Tuesday, October 18th at 5:00 pm ET, a class called “Are you being informed or influenced? News literacy skills to prioritize information from credible sources” can help attendees spot organizations, groups, influencers, bad actors, and others bombarding us with information designed to influence or even manipulate us rather than inform us. Click here to learn more and register for this event.
- On Tuesday, October 25th at 5:00 pm ET, a class called “Spotting election misinformation and understanding motivations behind how and why it spreads” will help attendees move beyond the unhelpful term “fake news” to more precisely identify the common types of misleading, inaccurate and false information that we are likely to encounter in the runup to the elections. Click here to learn more and register for this event.
In November, we challenge ourselves to question: is the internet killing truth?
- On Tuesday, November 1 at 5:00 pm ET, News Literacy Project will be hosting a class called “How to debunk misinformation and engage in productive conversations without confrontation.” In the class, attendees will learn how to verify factful information and hold dynamic and informed conversations. Click here to learn more and register for the event.
- On Wednesday, November 2 at 3:00 pm ET, a live discussion called “Is the Internet Killing Truth?” will be held on AARP’s Virtual Community Center (VCC). OATS from AARP Executive Director Tom Kamber will take the virtual stage with Founder of The News Literacy Project Alan C. Miller to explore the urgent importance of educating the American public to be thoughtful consumers of news and information. As a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Miller’s dedication to investigating and reporting the truth translated into the creation of a national movement to educate and empower the public to recognize misinformation. Click here to learn more information and register for this FREE event.
- On Thursday, November 17th at 5:00 pm ET, Senior Planet will be co-sponsoring an event called “Productive conversations without confrontation.” One week before Thanksgiving, this class will help attendees foster productive, civil conversations that can identify and mitigate beliefs built on misinformation, propaganda, or even conspiracy theories. Click here to learn more and register for the event.
By having a deeper understanding of misinformation, we can become less susceptible to it and more likely to prioritize reliable, verified sources of news and information. And if you are ever in doubt of spotting the truth, you can fact-check yourself with The News Literacy Project’s new tool called RumorGuard.
For more information about any of the events above, contact Senior Planet from AARP at: virtual@seniorplanet.org.