MLA 2018 - Fake News in a Fact-Averse World.

The 2018 MLA conference hosted a variety of presentations that provided valuable information and practical applications for public librarians. 

One session that was a highlight for me was Fake News in a Fact-Averse World.  This thought provoking class, presented by Andrea Rice from Queen Anne’s County Library argued that librarians are on the front lines in terms of informing their patrons about what she called “media literacy.”  She mentioned a startling statistic that in one poll 64% of the respondents were confused as to what constitutes accurate news.

Ms. Rice also discussed how the ability to fact check can also be seen as a generational phenomenon – with Gen Xers better equipped to verify information sources than Millennials and Baby Boomers. 

She provided a number of resources for information professionals to assist in helping to verify sources.  Some of her preferred tools included:  Allsides, Media Matters, Fact Check, Open Secrets, Politifact, & The Sunlight Foundation.  Ms. Rice also proposed a technique called “triangulation,” or the use of two additional sources to help in verifying a piece of information.

Ms. Rice also discussed the concept known as “click bait,” where sensational stories are fabricated simply because they attract a lot of attention and therefore are popular with advertisers.

She pointed out that the term “fake news” is frequently used by people as a tactic to dismiss something that they are inclined not to agree with in the first place.  “Confirmation Bias” is the notion that we tend to stick to our pre conceived beliefs when it comes to trusting a news source.  This is why Ms. Rice embraces what she calls “media literacy” as a more methodological approach for information professionals (and the public) to help determine the validity of news items – and tell the difference between fact and fabrication.

Greg Fromme
Herring Run Branch