Thematic Lists

There has been a lot of talk about "fake news" in the news lately. Being able to spot the difference between credible and non-credible sources is a vital 21st century skill to have. Learn the tricks and traps of deception and the skills required to achieve information literacy--and always get to the truth of the matter! Packed with fun facts and detailed sidebars, this informational text explores contemporary issues and high-interest, relevant subjects. Featuring TIME© content and images, this nonfiction book has important text features such as a glossary, an index, and a table of contents to engage students in reading as they build their comprehension, vocabulary, and reading skills. The Reader's Guide and extended Try It! activity increase understanding of the material, and develop higher-order thinking. Check It Out! offers print and online resources for additional reading. Keep students reading from cover to cover with this captivating text!

While popularized by President Donald Trump, the term "fake news" actually originated toward the end of the 19th century, in an era of rampant yellow journalism. Since then, it has come to encompass a broad universe of news stories and marketing strategies ranging from outright lies, propaganda, and conspiracy theories to hoaxes, opinion pieces, and satire--all facilitated and manipulated by social media platforms. This title explores journalistic and fact-checking standards, Constitutional protections, and real-world case studies, helping readers identify the mechanics, perpetrators, motives, and psychology of fake news. A final chapter explores methods for assessing and avoiding the spread of fake news.

What is a fact? What are reliable sources? What is news? What is fake news? How can anyone make sense of it anymore? Well, we have to. As conspiracy theories and online hoaxes increasingly become a part of our national discourse and "truth" itself is being questioned, it has never been more vital to build the discernment necessary to tell fact from fiction, and media literacy has never been more important. In this accessible guide, Dr. Seema Yasmin, an award-winning journalist, scientist, medical professional, and professor, traces the spread of misinformation and disinformation through our fast-moving media landscape and teaches young readers the skills that will help them identify and counter poorly-sourced clickbait and misleading headlines.

"Fake news" is a term you've probably heard a lot in the last few years, but it's not a new phenomenon. From the ancient Egyptians to the French Revolution to Jack the Ripper and the founding fathers, fake news has been around as long as human civilization. But that doesn't mean that we should just give up on the idea of finding the truth. In True or False, former CIA analyst Cindy Otis will take readers through the history and impact of misinformation over the centuries, sharing stories from the past and insights that readers today can gain from them. Then, she shares lessons learned in over a decade working for the CIA, including actionable tips on how to spot fake news, how to make sense of the information we receive each day, and, perhaps most importantly, how to understand and see past our own information biases, so that we can think critically about important issues and put events happening around us into context. True or False includes a wealth of photo illustrations, informative inserts, and sidebars containing interesting facts and trivia sure to engage readers in critical thinking and analysis.

The 2016 US presidential election introduced a new term to the media lexicon. The Fake News Phenomenon examines the spread of bogus news sources, the reasons they exist, and the difference between media bias and "fake news." Readers are also provided with tips for how to discern the credibility of a news source. Easy-to-read text, vivid images, and helpful back matter give readers a clear look at this subject. Features include a table of contents, infographics, a glossary, additional resources, and an index.

Memes and Internet satire are everywhere online. They come and go so quickly, it's hard to understand what they even mean. Readers take a closer look at this modern phenomenon in a thoughtful and accessible way. They will explore the early days of memes including where the name comes from and how they spread throughout the web. This book investigates the world of Internet satire including the rise of fake news and the trouble humor can cause when they go too far. A helpful glossary and resources to further readers' learning are provided inside.

An illustrated guide to how we can all make a difference in our local and global communities. Are you an aspiring activist or a curious community member? Then this is the perfect guide for you! Young people around the world are more aware than ever before of social, cultural, and environmental issues. They want their voices to be heard. They are keen to step up and make a difference. Packed with carefully curated and expert-written content, this fun illustrated guide helps young people explore the global issues that matter most to them and shows them practical ways to actively participate in their local community and the wider world. The book helps them discover how to be respectful online, understand why we pay taxes, and even campaign to clean a local beach! From tricky topics such as fake news, racism, ableism, and the climate crisis, to compelling stories of young leaders sparking change, this book explains how to make a difference at every level - at home, in the local community, and globally. Lively graphics and thought-provoking text highlight how young people can be part of a community and train in specific careers to do so, inspiring them to take up the responsibilities of citizenship. How To Be A Global Citizen is essential reading for tomorrow's active global citizens.

Fake news, pseudoscience, and quackery have become scourges, spreading through society from social media all the way to Congress. The line between entertainment and reality, between fact and fiction, has become blurred. Some of the most crucial issues of our time--climate change, vaccines, and genetically modified organisms--have become prime targets for nefarious disinformation campaigns. Far too many people have become distrustful of real science. Even those who still trust science no longer know what to believe or how to identify the truth. Not only does this result in the devaluation and distrust of real science, but it is also dangerous: people acting based on false information can hurt themselves or those around them. We must equip ourselves with the knowledge and skills to fight back against all this disinformation. In Science and the Skeptic: Discerning Fact from Fiction, you will learn how science is done, from the basic scientific method to the vetting process that scientific papers must go through to become published; how and why some people intentionally or unintentionally spread misinformation; and the dangers in believing and spreading false information. You'll also find twenty easy-to-follow rules for distinguishing fake science from the real deal. Armed with this book, empower yourself with knowledge, learning what information to trust and what to dismiss as deceit.

Do you believe everything you read in the newspaper? Early in August 1937, a news flash came: a sea monster had been spotted lurking off the shore of Nantucket Island. Historically, the Massachusetts island had served as port for whaling ships. Eyewitnesses swore this wasn't a whale, but some new, fearsome creature. As eyewitness account piled up, newspaper stories of the sea monster spread quickly. Across the nation, people shivered in fear. Then, footprints were found on a Nantucket beach. Photographs were sent to prominent biologists for their opinion. Discussion swirled about raising a hunting party. On August 18, news spread across the island: the sea monster had been captured. Islanders ran to the beach and couldn't believe their eyes. This nonfiction picture book is a perfect tool to discuss non-political fake news stories. Back matter discusses the freedom of the press guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Quotes from Thomas Jefferson make it clear that fake news has always been one of the costs of a free press. A Timeline lists actual events in the order they occurred. A vocabulary list defines relevant words.

Big lies are told by governments, politicians, and corporations to avoid responsibility, cast blame on the innocent, win elections, disguise intent, create chaos, and gain power and wealth. Big lies are as old as civilization; they corrupt public understanding and discourse, turn science upside down, and reinvent history. The future stewards of our world require a how-to manual for seeing through big lies and thinking critically, because big lies require believers, and democracy depends on independent thought.

Now that anyone with a keyboard and an Internet connection can be a virtual journalist, a growing concern among professionals is accuracy in reporting. This book asks what exactly does it take to become a professional journalist and which ones should readers trust. It also teaches readers to spot reputable news sites and look skeptically at others for political bias or misinformation. Other questions include the ethics behind the growing use of anonymous sources and the ability to hide one's digital identity. This book cuts straight to the heart of the most important rule in journalism: getting the story right.

In 1917, in Cottingley, England, a girl named Elsie took a picture of her younger cousin, Frances. Also in the photo was a group of fairies, fairies that the girls insisted were real. Through a remarkable set of circumstances, that photograph and the ones that followed came to be widely believed as evidence of real fairies. It was not until 1983 that the girls, then late in life, confessed that the Cottingley Fairies were a hoax. Their take is an extraordinary slice of history, from a time when anything in a photograph was assumed to be fact and it was possible to trick an eager public into believing something magical. Exquisitely illustrated with art and the original fairy photographs.

Little RAD uses the RADCAB Rules to foil the wolf and arrive safely at her destination. The RADCAB acronym is an information literacy tool that helps students evaluate online information by applying the concepts of relevancy, appropriateness, detail, currency, authority and bias to their online information sources.

Thanks to websites and social media platforms, conspiracy theories are able to reach a wider audience today than ever before. Such theories both fascinate and alarm critical thinkers because they challenge media consumers of all ages to hone their media literacy skills. This volume introduces the basic critical thinking concepts needed in order to evaluate the credibility of conspiracy theories, such as those surrounding the September 11 terrorist attacks and allegations of "crisis actors" after mass shootings, as well as the skills needed to debunk such theories. Case studies and examples walk the reader step-by-step through the methods readers can use to process and evaluate information related to conspiracy theories, helping to separate fact from fiction.

In this book, readers will learn the differences between facts and opinions. Carefully-leveled text and vibrant, full-color photographs help readers understand that informed citizenship relies on the critical and responsible usage of media and information. Features reading tips for teachers and parents, table of contents, Take Action! activity, questions to encourage deeper inquiry, glossary, and index"

Sources are vital building blocks of news because they provide the facts of news stories. In the Internet age, as more readers consume news on various websites and social media platforms, it is important for young readers to be able to determine which sources qualify as good sources of information and which qualify as nothing more than misinformation or rumors. This book helps young readers to explore the sources of their information, defines what both good and bad sources are, and teaches young readers why it is important to ask themselves, "Are these good sources of information?"

Can peanuts give you super strength? Were unicorns discovered on the moon? Did Martians really invade New Jersey? For anyone who has ever encountered outrageous stories like these and wondered whether they were true, this funny, yet informative book breaks down what fake news is, why people spread it, and how to tell what is true and what isn't. With quirky illustrations and a humorous tone, Elise Gravel brings her kid-accessible wit to the increasingly important subject of media literacy and equips younger readers with the skills needed to interact with global news.

Contemporary societies are saturated with pictures. They are globally a part of everyday life, and they are seductive, offering values and beliefs in such highly pleasurable forms that it is often difficult to resist their power to persuade. Yet interpreting pictures is largely neglected in schools. Picture Pedagogy addresses this head on, showing that pictures can be used as a powerful form of classroom pedagogy. Duncum explores key concepts and curriculum examples to empower you to support students to develop a critical consciousness about pictures, whether teaching art, media, language or social studies. Drawing on the interpretive concepts of representation, rhetoric, ideology, aesthetic pleasure, intertextuality and the gaze, Duncum shows how you can develop your students' skills so that their power as viewers can match the power of pictures to seduce. Examples from the history of fine art and contemporary popular mass media, including Big Data and fake news, are drawn together and shown to be appealing to the same aesthetic pleasures. Often these pleasures are benign, but also problematic, helping to promote morally questionable ideas about a range of topics including gender, race and sexual orientation, and this is explored fully.

In our media-saturated environment, how can we teach students to distinguish true statements from those that are false, misleading, or manipulative? How can we help them develop the skills needed to identify biases and stereotypes, determine credibility of sources, and analyze their own thinking and its effect on their perceptions? In Teaching Students to Decode the World, authors Chris Sperry and Cyndy Scheibe tackle these questions as they introduce readers to constructivist media decoding (CMD), a specific way to lead students through a question-based analysis of media materials-including print and digital documents, videos and films, social media posts, advertisements, and other formats-with an emphasis on critical thinking and collaboration. Drawing from their decades of experience as teachers, consultants, and media literacy advocates, the authors explain how to Develop and facilitate CMD activities in the classroom and in virtual teaching environments; Implement CMD across the curriculum, at all grade levels; Connect CMD with educational approaches such as project-based learning, social-emotional learning, and antiracist education; Incorporate CMD into assessments; and Promote CMD as a districtwide initiative. This comprehensive guide explains the theoretical foundations for CMD and offers dozens of real-life examples of its implementation and its powerful impact on students and teachers. Equipped with CMD skills, students will be better able to navigate a complex media landscape, participate in a democratic society, and become productive citizens of the world.
E-book is available through link in record

Get the strategies and tools you need to develop a deep understanding of media literacy so that you can pass on essential critical thinking skills to your students. Helping students understand media literacy has never been more important. Today's young people often spend over 10 hours a day consuming media. Aided by technology, they can instantly engage with media outlets and platforms to find answers, share information, shop or connect with friends. But access alone doesn't lead to critical thinking. Media is designed to be analyzed, deconstructed and reconstructed. Understanding how to interpret advertising messages, check for bias or avoid stereotyping are among the skills students need to become knowledgeable consumers and producers of media. This is where Media Literacy in the K-12 Classroom, Second Edition comes in. Included in this revised edition: A new section that examines "big ideas" in media literacy, such as bias, representation, gatekeeping and symbolism. Voices from the field in each chapter, answering the questions: Why do you think media literacy education is important? What resources would you recommend to learn more? Two full media literacy lesson plans that can be easily adapted for your classes. Guiding questions, exercises and checklists for deconstructing media messages. An appendix with over 80 author-recommended resources. How do you begin to understand the importance of teaching media literacy? Where can you find appropriate resources -- lessons, activities, videos and books -- to help you do so? This book is the place to start.

Can teaching media literacy really change the world? Researchers predict that, in 2015, the average American will spend more than fifteen hours every day listening, reading, clicking, and viewing media. Without question, television, films, radio, and music, the Internet, social media, news programs, and books and magazines are part of our daily lives. And while some claim that all of this media consumption is detrimental to society, the truth is it doesn't have to be. Times have changed. Technology connects us today in new and exciting ways. We have more choices and more control than ever, regarding what and when we will watch, listen to, and read. And, as Julie Smith explains in Master the Media: How Teaching Media Literacy Can Save Our Plugged-in World, with that control comes a heightened level of responsibility to think critically about the content we consume. Written to help teachers and parents educate the next generation, Master the Media explains the history, purpose, and messages behind the media. The point isn't to get kids to unplug; it's to help them make informed choices, understand the difference between truth and lies, and discern perception from reality. Critical thinking leads to smarter decisions-and it's why media literacy can save the world.

LAMBOOZLED! is set in the fictional sheep town of Green Meadows, where some news stories attempt to pull the wool over your eyes. Responding to current issues surrounding news credibility, this award-winning card game will help young people (age 11+) sharpen their critical media literacy skills in a non-political context ... Players must help the sheep citizens figure out what's true and what's not by using their evidence to win over the herd. 2–6 players use Evidence Cards to support or challenge the story shown on the News Card, and Action Cards are used to strengthen their position or weaken their opponents’ to determine if the news is REAL or FAKE. The strongest set of evidence wins each round.

It was an ordinary night in October of 1938 until a news bulletin interrupted the dance music on CBS radio - aliens were invading the United States! Meghan McCarthy's hilarious Aliens Are Coming! tells the true story of the Halloween radio prank that duped much of the country into believing that Martians had invaded. The book uses excerpts from the actual War of the Worlds radio broadcast and includes information about the importance of radios in the 1930s (before the time of televisions and computers) as well as facts about Orson Welles and H. G. Wells, author of the novel on which the broadcast was based.

This book for young readers explores in riveting detail the false panic created by the famous War of the Worlds radio broadcast from 1938-as well as the repercussions of "fake news" today. On the night of October 30, 1938, thousands of Americans panicked when they believed that Martians had invaded Earth. What appeared to be breaking news about an alien invasion was in fact a radio drama based on H. G. Wells's War of the Worlds, performed by Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre players. Some listeners became angry once they realized they had been tricked, and the reaction to the broadcast sparked a national discussion about fake news, propaganda, and the role of radio. In this compelling nonfiction chapter book, Gail Jarrow explores the production of the broadcast, the aftermath, and the concept of "fake news" in the media.

Nonfiction articles examining murder, plagiarism, bigamy, con games, secret identities, hoaxes, and psychic phenomena. Each is followed by reading comprehension and critical thinking exercises.
Includes a chapter on the War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast