What separates a newspaper from a tabloid or a legitimate website from a hoax? Knowing how to distinguish fact from fiction. To encourage people to think more critically about the media they are consuming, the Center for Media Literacydeveloped these five questions one should consider:
1. Who created this message?
2. What techniques are used to attract my attention?
3. How might people understand this message differently?
4. What lifestyles, values and points of view are represented in, or omitted from, this message?
5. Why was this message sent?
By asking these questions regularly about the messages you see, read and hear, you can become more media literate, better formulate your own opinions and better express these opinions in public debates or discussions.
The Center for Media Literacy is an organization that teaches people how to make sense of our complex media environment. You can learn more about media literacy by downloading the organization’s free toolkit on media literacy education.