Watch your Internet sources
A letter we printed in the run-up to the Nov. 6 election made me shudder. The writer rightfully suggested that politicians flood us with too many falsehoods and downright lies. Instead of believing misleading advertisements, this writer urged readers to find the truth about what a politician really says by going to the Internet.
I’m afraid, however, that too many people spread misinformation and falsehoods on the Internet, and too many gullible people believe such trash. I get emails almost daily that are passed along by readers who’ve received some forwarded information about some politician or issue. I seldom take time to read them. If I don’t know the source, I can’t trust that it’s reliable.
Earlier this month, I read a story in the Daily Targum in New Brunswick, N.J., about journalism students unwittingly using unreliable Internet sources.
Because of the widespread accessibility and volume of available information, some Rutgers University instructors face the challenge of teaching students how to discern reliable versus faulty sources for their research papers, the story explained.
Kathleen McCollough, an adjunct professor in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies, was teaching a workshop titled “The Internet and Critical Thinking.” When she started teaching, she was shocked at students’ poor research methods. Students too often wasted time and risked bad grades by using sources that lacked quality.
She told reporter Theresa Lin that students should assume the role of an investigative reporter when determining the quality of sources by questioning whether a site’s author could have ulterior motives.
So should a lot of voters—and those emailing me political chain letters with questionable material.
Greg Peck can be reached at (608) 755-8278 or gpeck@gazettextra.com. Or follow him on Twitter or Facebook
Dec 2, 2012 at 9:10 a.m.
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Thanks for the heads up "Captain Obvious".
Dec 2, 2012 at 12:11 a.m.
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it seems like FOX and MSNBC are diametrically opposed. Each has their own infallible resources !!! Each has their own supporters that are totally faithful....and believe the other is totally false...No wonder why we have partisan political feelings. and this day and age of economic hardships make an unemployed person wonder how in the heck a rich person worrying about being taxed more equivocates to being fed or clothed or medicated or being warm in the coming winter months.
Dec 1, 2012 at 10:40 a.m.
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"Kathleen McCollough, an adjunct professor in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies, ...told reporter Theresa Lin that students should assume the role of an investigative reporter when determining the quality of sources by questioning whether a site’s author could have ulterior motives."
Gazette, Heal Thy Self!
Nov 30, 2012 at 3:02 p.m.
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What you need is a good Baloney Detection Kit™ like this one:
http://youtu.be/hJmRbSX8Rqo
Nov 30, 2012 at 11:12 a.m.
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If we learn to trust nothing we can't be too terribly disappointed with humanity. We should always have faith in ourselves but also carefully examine other sources of information. Maybe faith is something best reserved for church on Sunday morning.
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