Check Yourself with Lateral Reading: Crash Course Navigating Digital Information #3

Summary

In this Crash Course episode, John Green introduces the concept of lateral reading, a critical skill for evaluating digital information. He explains that all information has a source and purpose, which can influence its reliability. Using examples like the 'Stop City-Funded Internet' campaign and ALEC, Green illustrates how to uncover the true origins and motivations behind online content. He also suggests various resources for lateral reading, including newspapers, magazines, fact-checking websites, and even Wikipedia, emphasizing the importance of understanding the context behind information to combat misinformation.

Takeaways

• 📘 **Source Understanding**: Knowing the source of information is crucial for assessing its reliability.
• 👥 **Behind the Scenes**: Information is produced by teams of people with various roles, not just individuals.
• 🌐 **Media Landscape**: Media is not a monolith; it's a diverse industry with different viewpoints.
• 🔍 **Lateral Reading**: Instead of reading vertically, move horizontally across tabs to verify information.
• 🤔 **Question Motives**: Always ask 'who made this and why?' to understand potential biases.
• 📰 **Newspapers and Magazines**: Traditional media can be a starting point for lateral reading.
• 🔎 **Fact-Checking Websites**: Use fact-checking sites like Snopes and Politifact for verifying claims.
• 🌟 **Wikipedia's Role**: Despite its reputation, Wikipedia can be a good starting point for research.
• 🚫 **No Single Truth Source**: There's no one source that provides absolute truth; information is subjective.
• 💡 **Active Reading**: Engage in active reading practices to combat misinformation and disinformation.

Q & A

What is the main skill discussed in the Crash Course Navigating Digital Information episode presented by John Green?

The main skill discussed is the importance of understanding where information comes from and how to evaluate its reliability in the digital age.

What are some of the ways that Crash Course is funded, as mentioned in the script?

Crash Course is funded partly by support from Patreon, partly by advertisements, and partly by grants from organizations.

Who are the collaborators that helped create the video mentioned in the script?

The collaborators mentioned are MediaWise, the Poynter Institute, and the Stanford History Education Group.

What is the significance of understanding the motives behind the creation of information, as discussed in the script?

Understanding the motives behind the creation of information is significant because it helps to determine the reliability and potential biases of the information.

What is 'lateral reading' as introduced by John Green in the script?

Lateral reading is the practice of leaving a website to search for additional information from other sources to better understand and evaluate the original website's content.

Why is it important to look for additional information when evaluating a website's content, according to the script?

It is important to look for additional information because it helps to uncover potential conflicts of interest, biases, and to verify the reliability of the content.

What is an example of a deceptive campaign mentioned in the script, and how was its true origin discovered?

The 'Stop City-Funded Internet' campaign is an example of a deceptive campaign. Its true origin was discovered when someone noticed the file name of the site’s logo had 'Fidelity' in it, revealing that Fidelity Communications, a local internet provider, was behind it.

What are some of the sources recommended for lateral reading in the script?

Some sources recommended for lateral reading include newspapers, magazines, digital news sites, fact-checking websites like Snopes.com and Politifact.com, and Wikipedia.

Why does John Green argue that Wikipedia can be a good starting point for research, despite its reputation for being unreliable?

John Green argues that Wikipedia can be a good starting point for research because it is the largest general reference work on the web, and its articles are subject to editing standards, which can be rigorous, providing well-sourced and carefully written content.

What is the main takeaway from the script regarding the evaluation of information found online?

The main takeaway is that understanding who is sharing the information and why, combined with lateral reading practices, can help evaluate the reliability of online information and place it in its proper context.