Recently, there have been many developments in regards to dissolving misinformation. Although falsity in media has not been a problem for that long, solutions are needed. So this begs the question: what advancements are finally being made?
For starters, many argue local journalism could help save the distribution of news. The Local Journalism Sustainability Act was proposed in July and has recently been discussed on social media. “The Local Journalism Sustainability Act offers a series of three tax-credits aimed at sustaining and providing a pathway to viability for the local journalism industry in the years to come. The first credit works to incentivize annual subscriptions to local papers that primarily produce content related to local news and current events. The second credit is a five-year refundable credit for local newspapers to employ and adequately compensate journalists. The last of the three credits is a five-year non-refundable tax credit that incentivizes small-to-medium sized businesses to advertise with local newspapers, as well as local radio and television stations”.
Public figures like Andrew Yang have taken to social media to encourage the public to reevaluate the importance of accessing local news.
Many people are still confused as to who would own these newspapers and how corruption could play into that. One user took to say that they did not want “state sponsored journalism”. What are your thoughts? Is local journalism outdated? Can it be saved? Should it be?
In other news, the Poynter institute recently released its International Fact-Checking Network program. Poynter is now in partnership with the Insitute for War and Peace Reporting aims to offer vital skills to newsrooms across 20 nations. Poynter indicates that their goal is “to provide established and aspiring newsrooms with fact-checking skills and connect them with the existing verified signatories through mentorship and monitoring to assure the beneficiaries will be compliant to IFCN’s Code of Principles”. Anthony Borden, founder and executive director of the Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR), states that “The world is experiencing a crisis of disinformation. The need for factual and fair reporting is more important than ever. Citizens need to be informed, officials need to be questioned, human stories need to be told”.
The Poynter Institute also has a teen fact checking network in its Mediawise program. This program wants to teach kids and help them “learn how to create original fact-checking videos for Instagram and help us teach MediaWise tips along the way”. Want to get involved? Click the link!
The News Literacy Project also has introduced Checkology to help kids decipher between fact or fiction online. The website states that “Checkology empowers students to become smart consumers of information in all its forms and engaged participants in civic life”. Do you think media lessons need to be implemented in schools?
Sources
poynter 20 nations project
local journalism sustainability act
Andrew yang tweets on this
news literacy project
media-wise teen misinformation project (how to get involved)
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