Media Literacy in the Digital Age

Book excerpt: Many of us, particularly young consumers, are constantly connected online and increasingly informed by digital media. For the first time, Australians¿ use of online news has surpassed traditional offline news sources. In this confusing age of misinformation, how do we make sense of media messages? Media literacy and education are essential tools; we need to be able to tell fact from fiction in news that is rapidly and pervasively generated by multiple sources via websites and digital platforms, including social media. This book is a timely guide aimed at teachers and students, featuring expert advice on how to promote the necessary skills to access, understand, question, critically analyse and evaluate digital media. If we are to bewell-informed and entertained by online content, it is important that we understand the news media environment and our engagement with it, in all of its factual, social and ethical dimensions. How is `fake news¿ spread, and how can you detect it? What sources should you trust, and why?