Although the term “zombie” dates to the late 18th century, Western depictions of zombies are fairly recent, although myriad in interpretation. Zombies are generally associated with Haiti, a connection fostered through literature at least since the early 20th century. While Wade Davis’ examination of zombies in 1986 became a bestseller and led to a movie… Read more »
Tag: fake news
A guide to political (mis)information
During any election season, voters are bombarded with messages regarding candidates, policies and the potential outcomes of a particular candidate’s victory. Yet much of that messaging is distributed as lower-quality information, sometimes fact-free in its entirety. Voting is an incredibly important duty for American citizens, and that means it’s doubly important to know how to… Read more »
Media Literacy Week
Media Literacy Week, hosted by National Association for Media Literacy Education, will be held from Monday, October 24 to Friday, October 28. Now in its eighth year, Media Literacy Week is intended to promote the important role of media literacy in education today. To celebrate, IU East will be hosting a panel discussion on Thursday,… Read more »
News Media Know-how
Different sources of information are good for different purposes. Despite its glaring security issues, TikTok is increasingly being used as a way to search for more socially important information, such as where to find a restaurant or comparing two similar items. But social media has no filters to determine the accuracy of its content. For… Read more »
Digital Gardening: Instruction Librarian KT Lowe shares her first-person perspective
In December 2021, I was fortunate to be a member of the inaugural class of Digital Gardening Faculty Fellows at Indiana University. Thirty-five faculty members from throughout the IU system were selected to participate in the Digital Gardening Initiative, which aims to pull together faculty from diverse IU institutions and backgrounds to help them develop… Read more »
Fact-checking in a time of crisis
When major world events occur, facts can become harder to come by. In a media climate where 53% of Americans get their news from social media, it is imperative that we as a society learn how to find good quality information when international conflicts can interrupt the flow of news coverage. Here are some tips… Read more »
Misinformation and fake news in 2022
2022 has begun and fake news continues. To help reduce misinformation in one’s news diet, your IU East Campus Librarians have some tips. Skip the memes How do you know that meme is real? Sure, it’s got a goofy picture on it and says things you agree with, but that doesn’t make it truthful. Memes… Read more »
Remembering 9/11, twenty years later
On the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, New York was going about its business. As the city that never sleeps, people were already on board the subways, taking buses and heading up the elevators to their offices. The streets were bustling as usual with shop owners, clerks, tourists, locals, children – everyone who had… Read more »
NewsLitCamp: Highlights 2021
The NewsLitCamp, hosted by the News Literacy Project, is an outreach program dedicated to providing educators with the latest tools and information that they need to equip their students in the fight against fake news. This year, 15 reporters and staff members from CNN joined in, offering exclusive insight into the back door of the… Read more »
How To Trust the News
In examining the current news environment, it can be disheartening to see the vast divide in political perspective that colors or slants vital reporting. While partisan reporting allows consumers to feel more comfortable, having their own biases reinforced, it makes searching for the facts that inform opinions more difficult. It also complicates finding common ground… Read more »