Fake News / Misinformation- Develop critical thinking skills to analyze media’s influence.

Fake News / Misinformation

Objective:

• Develop critical thinking skills to analyze media’s influence.

Student Learning Outcome”

• Analyze and interpret possible bias in media content.

Based on information from Learn about Fake News/Misinformation in the Media page which includes the “Digital Disconnect – Fake News, Privacy and Democracy” and additional research on your topic write a 4 page paper addressing the following. You need to answer the questions in part 1 and part 2 below. Important note – for Part 1 only use information from Learn about Fake News/Misinformation in the Media page / for Part 2 conduct research and include four sources to support your topic.

Part 1 – Explore the idea of fake news

Learn about Fake News/Misinformation in the Media page which includes the “Digital Disconnect – Fake News, Privacy and Democracy” answer the following questions using examples and evidence from the sources. Part 1 should be 1.5 – 2 pages. Make sure to include evidence (and cite your sources) from the sources above to support your assertions.

1. What is fake news/ misinformation and why is it happening? 
2. How can we as consumers spot fake news?
3. What can be done to prevent the spread of fake news/misinformation?
4. Explain whether you think having access to this information aligns with the claim that the internet is a democratizing force. (“Digital Disconnect – Fake News, Privacy and Democracy”

Part 2 – Apply what you learned about Fake News/Misinformation by researching one of the topic’s below. Part 2 should be 2-2.5 pages in length.

1. Select one of the topics below.
2. Research the misinformation/fake news that was published about your topic. Find and use four sources on your topic for this section. These sources can’t be the ones provided in this assignment.
3. What misinformation/fake news was published about your topic?
4. Exam the forces that contributed to it – why do you think the misinformation published? Who was behind it?
5. Discuss the possible effects of this misinformation on society.

TOPICS:

• • COVID and/or anti-vaccination 
  • 2016 OR 2020 Presidential Election
  • The January 6 attack on the Capitol
  • Climate Change
  • Your choice – just make sure you can provide enough evidence.

More details:

• Paper should be double-spaced 4-5 pages. Include a header for Part 1 and Part 2.
• Paper should include a reference/bibliography section with the at least four sources for Part 2 and module resources for Part 1.
• Paper should include in-text citations in both part 1 and part 2 – telling the reader the source where your quotes, indirect quotes, and information came from.
• Double space your paper and use APA or MLA format.