01/31/2022
Teaching students to decipher fake news
News literacy means understanding and making sure the news consumers read, watch and hear is actually keeping them informed. Eric Jourgensen, an English and journalism teacher at Palm Beach Central High School, has a passion for teaching the subject. He says it’s all about giving students a sense of awareness of what’s real and what’s not. "To me, it's the students being able to decipher what they see," Jourgensen said. "It’s getting more and more difficult especially with the proliferation of social media."
■Class discussion: Can you tell what is real or what is not when you read? Researchers say many schoolkids are falling victim disinformation and conspiracy fantasies – usually starting around age 14. What sources of information can you trust? Have you had any lessons in news literacy? Do you ever check out different news sources before deciding if a news report is true? Are you attracted to reports that support what you already may believe? Do you ever seek out reports that challenge your beliefs? Why or why not?