Thema 4: Media Literacy
Prüfling A
Authorities are looking for ways to increase media literacy amongst citizens. Your local council has come up with the idea of offering workshops to reach this goal. Comment on the statistics. How students get their news on a daily basisSurvey conducted in 2018 among ca. 6,000 respondents at 11 US colleges and universities
(multiple answers possible)
Adapted from: https://news.northeastern.edu/2018/10/16/faced-with-a-daily-barrage-of-news-college-students-find-it-hard-to-tell-whats-real-and-whats-fake-news/
[accessed: 27 August 2021]
[accessed: 27 August 2021]
Prüfling B
Authorities are looking for ways to increase media literacy amongst citizens. Your local council has come up with the idea of offering workshops to reach this goal. Comment on the statistics. What students say about the role of news in their livesSurvey conducted in 2018 among ca. 6,000 respondents at 11 US colleges and universities
(multiple answers possible)
Adapted from: https://news.northeastern.edu/2018/10/16/faced-with-a-daily-barrage-of-news-college-students-find-it-hard-to-tell-whats-real-and-whats-fake-news/
[accessed: 27 August 2021]
[accessed: 27 August 2021]
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Please note that these solutions are only suggestions. There are various possibilities for argumentation.
- Let's start with...
- On the one hand / on the other hand
- It must be considered
- In my opinion / I think, personally, ...
- I agree / I disagree
Possible introductions to the topic and the argumentation
- Survey conducted in 2018 on how students get their news on a daily basis
- 6,000 respondents at 11 US colleges and universities
- Social media is the dominant source (72%), showing students prefer fast, informal access to news.
- Discussions with peers are common (48%), meaning students rely on each other rather than professional sources.
- Online news sites and news feeds are equally used (32%), indicating a trend toward digital consumption.
- Traditional media, like TV (15%), radio (14%), print (5%), have very limited relevance among students.
- Only 23% talk to teachers or professors, suggesting limited engagement with experts.
- These statistics show a shift from traditional to digital and social forms of news consumption.
- The reliance on social media may lead to exposure to misinformation or biased content.
- Personal conversations reflect a social influence on opinions, which may reinforce existing beliefs.
- The low use of expert guidance highlights the need for critical evaluation skills.
Statistic A:
possible introduction, description of the statistic and comment on it
possible introduction, description of the statistic and comment on it
- 2018 survey on the role of news in the lives of students
- 6,000 respondents at 11 colleges and universities
- 82% believe news is necessary in a democracy, showing strong awareness of its social value.
- 67% see news as factual storytelling that interests them, highlighting relevance to daily life.
- 65% believe news is objective, suggesting high trust in reporting.
- 63% feel following news is a civic duty, indicating motivation to stay informed.
- Only 23% do not think about the meaning of news, meaning most reflect on what they consume.
- Students generally believe news is trustworthy, important, and engaging.
- This positive attitude contrasts with their reliance on less reliable sources.
- The high trust may leave them vulnerable if they lack critical thinking skills.
- The statistics emphasize strong awareness but potentially limited critical analysis.
Statistic B:
possible introduction, description of the statistic and comment on it
possible introduction, description of the statistic and comment on it
- Media literacy is important because students need to distinguish credible sources from unreliable ones.
- It helps prevent the spread of fake news and encourages informed decision-making.
- It encourages students to question and verify information before accepting it.
- It builds awareness of how algorithms and social networks influence what we see.
- Media literacy is essential to help students interpret news objectively and recognise bias.
- It ensures that citizens can participate responsibly in democratic processes.
- It helps students evaluate whether news sources are credible and balanced.
- It empowers them to question assumptions rather than passively accept information.
The importance of media literacy
- Workshops could teach how to fact-check information and recognise fake news.
- Include activities comparing reliable vs. unreliable sources.
- Invite journalists or media experts to speak.
- Use group discussions to examine recent news stories and identify bias.
- Offer hands-on tasks such as analysing social media posts or headlines.
- Workshops should be interactive, scheduled regularly, and accessible to all students.
- Workshops could include lessons on identifying bias and recognising persuasive language.
- Introduce tools for fact-checking and verifying sources.
- Encourage students to compare different news platforms and analyse how the same story is presented.
- Organise debates on current issues to encourage deeper thinking.
- Provide materials and real-world examples so students can practise critical media evaluation.
- Workshops should be well-structured, led by trained facilitators, and include follow-up activities.
Activities and organisational aspects