People have many questions about how we continue to live our lives as the pandemic continues, and what the long-term effects of COVID-19 will be on individual lives and our communities. Opinions on these issues may often be political in nature, and because we are still learning about COVID-19, it can be hard to find the data to back up our claims.
If you have doubts about a news article or piece of information, it can be helpful to trace claims, images, and quotes back to the original context in which they were made. This can help you determine not only whether it is derived from a reliable source, but also its original purpose. First, check the date. Is the information being described recent, or is it being taken out of context? Double-check to make sure the people or organizations cited as sources in the story truly made the claims. Lastly, examine the claims in their original context to make sure they have not been misrepresented.
Before you begin this week's challenge, scroll down to the Further Resources section to find some trusted sources of information on COVID-19 and its impact on our community.
If you want to do a deep dive, check out Sifting Through the Coronavirus Pandemic from digital information literacy expert Mike Caulfield. This week, we're focusing on Find Better Coverage.
Need more help with identifying "fake news"? The International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) has a resource available in multiple languages here.
SIFT Infographic by Mike Caulfield is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
You've completed the COVID-19 Misinformation Challenge! It's been a delight to spend the past four weeks with you. We hope you found these activities useful and thought-provoking. Keep in touch!