News Literacy Concepts for First-Year Students

Abstract

Since first-year students are more likely to engage with mainstream news rather than fake news and disinformation, presenters in this session will introduce news literacy concepts and activities designed to help students better understand the mainstream news media ecosystem. First, presenters will introduce news literacy activities that foreground the unique ways legacy and emerging media outlets produce and disseminate news. Second, presenters will introduce news literacy activities inspired by the media effects research tradition, and shed light on the affective, behavioral, and cognitive dimensions of information processing. Finally, presenters will share readings and instructional materials with participants.