Day #1- The CAARP test

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The CAARP Test

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How can you tell if a source is reliable?

Guided Notes

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What is media literacy? Media comes to us in different forms - on the television, on the radio, on social media platforms. It is hurled at us at lightning speed in soundbites and short bursts, and it’s hard to wade through it all! Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between fact and opinion. People are tricked every day into buying and believing things that are fake or untrue. It is important that you are able to look at media critically and recognize which sources are credible and reliable versus which ones should not be trusted.

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Media Literacy

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Why is media literacy so important?

Types of Media

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In order to know if a source is credible, you have to be able to spot the type of media and the purpose for the media. Is what you are looking at an advertisement meant to sell you something? Is it a tweet and therefore someone’s opinion? How can you tell fact from opinion? What is the danger of fake news? Let’s dig into it.

Let’s Talk About How to Spot Different Types of Media

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What is it? An advertisement is anything that tries to convince a consumer to buy something (a physical object or service). If they are asking for your money, chances are it’s an advertisement. How can you tell that you are looking at an advertisement and not looking at a news article? When media outlets run advertisements, they are legally required to identify to readers that they are reading an advertisement. They might write something like “special promotional feature” or “sponsored advertisement.” You might also see a dollar amount, coupon code, or the phrase “Limited Time Only.” Can I use an advertisement as supportive evidence in an essay? No. Since they are trying to sell you something, they are considered a bias source.

How to Spot an Advertisement

*Please note the name of Twitter has changed to "X"

Check the date/time of post. If someone claims to have been at an important event, for example, does the time of the post validate that claim? Check on studies or sources of the post. Do they cite a specific study or source for their post? Can you click on the study? Can you verify the study or source in other places by googling it? If you can find the study mentioned in more than one legitimate news source, then you can trust it.

Twitter 101

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How do I know if a post is reliable? Click through to examine the profile of the source of the post. Do they have any biases? Do they belong to groups that might have specific goals? If so, the post might still be credible, but it is important to note any agendas that people might have. Click on the link to the actual article. What do you notice there? Is it a real article? Does it match the headline or the post? If they are not the same, the article may have been taken out of context on purpose (with the assumption that many people will repost without ever reading the article itself).

Social Media Posts: X/ Twitter

Look into the group that is putting out the tweet. What is goal of the group or their political leaning? Everyone has some political leaning, even the most objective news sources. They could still be telling the truth in their post, but you will better judge what they have to say if you know why they are saying it. Can I use a social media post as evidence in an essay? It depends. Check its credibility first. If it checks out and it's from an expert in the topic you're writing about, you may use it.

Social Media 101

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How do I know if a social media post is reliable? If the post just says something vague like “studies show” or “millions of people are voting illegally” without citing or referring to any evidence, and if you cannot verify the claim by finding it on reputable news sources, then it is likely not credible.

Social Media Posts: Continued

Let’s talk about pictures. Depending on the angle of the picture, the filter, and the way it has manipulated by software such as Photoshop, pictures can be deceiving. Check the source of the photograph. If there is no source or you can’t trace the source of the photograph, then likely it is not credible. Check on the photographer. Who took the photo? Look into what you can about the person who is credited with taking the picture. What biases can you find about the person who took it. Think about how or why the photograph proves what the post claims it proves. Is the photograph not actually related to the news story? Does it truly prove what it claims to, or is it just a way to get attention and get people to click through to a post?

Photographs

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A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words

Do a reverse Google search on the image. Can you find it in other places? Is it used for more than one purpose? If so, it might be a stock photo rather than documentary evidence. Check on the weather if it is a photo of an important event. What was the weather on the day and place of the photograph? If someone claims to have taken a picture at an event, does the weather in the photo match up with what the real weather was on that day?

Photographs

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A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words, Continued

Look for the blue check that signifies a verified page. This means that the post comes from who it says it does (often a famous or well-known person). Look at the source of the article. If it is a website, you can then then apply the criteria for examining a website. We’ll get to that in a minute! Look for the article in other credible sources. Often, a simple Google search will reveal if the story is a hoax or a rumor. If you can find it in more than one reliable journalistic source, then it is likely credible/true.

Hitting “Share”

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Don’t Hit “Share” “Like” or “Repost” Until You...

Checking Snopes is a good place to start. Again, Googling the story and seeing if it has been covered by reputable sources is an easy way to test if a piece of news is true.

Most false news stories or hoaxes appear on snopes.com. Quick term check - HOAX. What is it? A hoax is a trick intended to deceive people. For example, some people have tricked others into believing in bigfoot by staging large footprints in the mud. Think about the emotional response that the story evokes. If the story seems to appeal to emotions, especially anger or outrage, be wary. (Though some legitimate stories may make you angry, they are usually written with a less inflammatory tone.)

Fact or Opinion?

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