How do you teach kids how to evaluate news sources?

[Greg 1]

There are some very untrustworthy sources presenting themselves as news sources.

What's the best way to teach kids how to distinguish good sources from bad ones? Can you do it without being politically partisan?

 

[Integrityrespec]

There are some very untrustworthy sources presenting themselves as news sources.

What's the best way to teach kids how to distinguish good sources from bad ones? Can you do it without being politically partisan?

Verify what you are hearing by using a variety of sources. Are the sources for the information valid, do they present evidence versus opinion, is the evidence verifiable. Is there low incidence of bias.

 

[Anagram]

There are some very untrustworthy sources presenting themselves as news sources.

What's the best way to teach kids how to distinguish good sources from bad ones? Can you do it without being politically partisan?

My recommendation would be to take the content in any given article and first try and get the factual information you can. Separate straight facts from commentary on facts. Then, look into the facts to see if the full context is presented. If the article talks about a statute, read the text of the statute. If the article contains quotes from politicians, try and find the full transcript so you can see the full context of what was said. If it is about a court decision, read the decision first before reading any commentary on it.

If you don't feel that you know enough from looking at the facts to be able to accurately judge the accuracy of the original source, then try and get commentary from multiple sources.

It's work, and the more you do it, the more you can take reasonable shortcuts when you find that the commentary from one source lines up with what you believe to be accurate in the past.

 

[dmpi]

First of all, decide if the subject is controversial. If it is then you're not getting the true story regardless of where you read it.

 

[Phys251]

First of all, decide if the subject is controversial. If it is then you're not getting the true story regardless of where you read it.

Kids should be sheltered from controversial topics?

 

[ttwtt78640]

There are some very untrustworthy sources presenting themselves as news sources.

What's the best way to teach kids how to distinguish good sources from bad ones? Can you do it without being politically partisan?

Most media bias is accomplished by omission.

Sometimes the bias is more subtle:

US Senator Menendez charged with obstruction of justice in new indictment​

​

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-senator-menendez-charged-with-obstruction-justice-new-indictment-2024-03-05/

Indicted Republican lawmaker George Santos expelled from US House​

​

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-lawmaker-george-santos-indicted-fraud-charges-faces-house-expulsion-vote-2023-12-01/

Only one of the headlines above mentioned the politician’s political party. Why was it important for the republicant, but not for the demorat?

 

[dmpi]

Kids should be sheltered from controversial topics?

No. Just understand you're not getting the real complete story regardless of how many sites you read. It's up to you to put together all the incomplete, possibly incorrect data and reach our own conclusion which will undoubtedly be probably wrong. That's why these subjects are controversial.

 

[mike2810]

First of all, decide if the subject is controversial. If it is then you're not getting the true story regardless of where you read it.

No. Just understand you're not getting the real complete story regardless of how many sites you read. It's up to you to put together all the incomplete, possibly incorrect data and reach our own conclusion which will undoubtedly be probably wrong. That's why these subjects are controversial.

/sarcasm
your posts are possibly controversial. therefor your probably wrong.
/sarcasm off

As other have said have your child read / look at a topic from various sources. Help them understand what opinion is, editorial, misinformation and what are just facts.

 

[GIJane]

Verify what you are hearing by using a variety of sources. Are the sources for the information valid, do they present evidence versus opinion, is the evidence verifiable. Is there low incidence of bias.

Well that eliminates about 90% of information

 

[PeacefulWarrior]

There are some very untrustworthy sources presenting themselves as news sources.

What's the best way to teach kids how to distinguish good sources from bad ones? Can you do it without being politically partisan?

I would say do what a good parent does: spend time with your kid, teach them some real values and about empathy as well as a need to earn a living. Instill some values.

And then hopefully the kid will be equipped to discern the good sources from the bad? I dunno.