Information Literacy at CalArts

Mis- and disinformation are major concerns today, and these types of harmful content can be increasingly difficult to parse. 

• Misinformation: incorrect or misleading information
• Disinformation: false information deliberately and often covertly spread (as by the planting of rumors) in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth

Source: Merriam-Webster

Types of Disinformation:

• Fabricated content: completely false content;
• Manipulated content: distortion of genuine information or imagery, for example a headline that is made more sensationalist, often popularized by ‘clickbait’;
• Imposter content: impersonation of genuine sources, for example by using the branding of an established news agency;
• Misleading content: misleading use of information, for example by presenting comment as fact;
• False context of connection: factually accurate content that is shared with false contextual information, for example when a headline of an article does not reflect the content;
• Satire and parody: presenting humorous but false stores as if they are true. Although not usually categorised as fake news, this may unintentionally fool readers.

Source: House of Commons Select Committee on Culture, Media, and Sport. (2018, July 29). Disinformation and 'fake news': Interim Report. 

Fake news is information that is clearly and demonstrably fabricated and that has been packaged and distributed to appear as legitimate news.

Source: mediamatters.org

It isn't always easy to tell whether a piece of information is fake news. Reliable fact checking sites like FactCheck.org, Politifact, and Snopes can help you to discern the truth from the fiction. You can also:

• Learn to recognize false news stories. Be curious and actively investigate what you read and hear.
• Use news sources that are accountable for their content and that follow journalistic ethics and standards.
• Use care before sharing news content with others on social media. Pause and reflect on news and information that arouses strong emotions, positive or negative.
• Learn to recognize your own biases and compensate for them.
• Learn about your rights and responsibilities as a digital citizen.

Source: MLA Guide to Digital Literacy (2nd edition, 2022).