Fighting Misinformation: Digital Media Literacy

by Tara Susman-Peña, Mehri Druckman, Nina Oduro

Listening Length: 3hours and 34 seconds
Americans spend hundreds, even thousands, of hours a week engaging with a wide range of media sources - TV, computers, tablets, radios, MP3 players, cell phones, newspapers, magazines, books, and more. Through these, we constantly access a wide range of platforms and media, from news to novels to Twitter feeds to email, and much more. Because we are continuously taking in information from a variety of sources, we are under constant threat from those who would intentionally (or accidentally) misinform - from foreign operatives, advertisers, politicians, and general scammers to our own friends and family. We all experience a near-constant barrage of incoming information. Combine that with the human brain’s reaction to stress or fear, and conditions are ripe for the spread of misinformation.

To better prepare you to defuse this threat, IREX (International Research & Exchanges Board) has teamed up with The Great Courses to provide a guide for navigating this tricky landscape with Fighting Misinformation: Digital Media Literacy, an eight-lecture course designed to arm you with the skills you need to be a savvy media consumer. Tara Susman-Peña, a senior technical advisor, and her colleagues at IREX, Mehri Druckman and Nina Oduro, will lead you step by step through the history, evolution, science, and impact of misinformation, helping you to develop the skills you need to combat fakes, stereotypes, and frauds within every kind of media source.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction, Education, Politics, Science, Journalism

4 pages, Audible Audio

First published January 8, 2020

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very basic stuff, so probably good for people who aren't very Internet savvy & don't understand all the tricks that are used. It would have been boring for me if it wasn't so short. They did mention most of the really obvious stuff, but didn't go into the reasons for or dangers of many of the fakes. Their examples of fake pictures, video, & audio were good since too many don't know just how easy it is or how often it's done. They also discussed some of our cognitive biases a little, too.

I quit watching 'documentaries' on anything requiring thought many years ago. Camera tricks have always been far too easy to play & most seem to have an agenda now. In text, I can examine the arguments, search out portions of text (highlight the text, right click & left click "search") for further clarification, & jot down questions. I can't do any of that with a video. They're just too good at getting me caught up in their narrative. For instance, seeing a video about people killing sea turtles is horrific & I want it to stop now. In a text article I can look up the area & might find out that this slaughter is a mainstay of their economy. Stopping it would be great, but it's not going to happen unless another means of income is provided first. Dead turtles are bad, starving kids are horrific, though.

They mentioned political divisiveness, but didn't delve enough into the profit or information gathering that many use. For instance, those stupid Facebook posts that say something like "Name your first car" or "Bet you can't name a state without an "a" in the name" aren't doing it just for fun. Most are scraping information about you. A common security question is naming your first car. Just posting on their post lets them look for security holes such as your friend list, phone number, birthday, email address, etc.

They didn't list nearly enough free sources for checking bullshit, but listed several that cost money without mentioning it. Most folks won't pay a monthly fee to fact check. Heck, we're lucky if we can get anyone to do it. This site lists some good free ones:
https://webliteracy.pressbooks.com/ch...
You'll probably have to open a new tab & search with both the site name & the fact you want to check, though.
This site lists mostly sites that require a monthly fee.
https://thetrustedweb.org/browser-ext...
On the plus side, they usually have browser plug-ins to make look ups easy. Media Bias/Fact Check Extension is one exception that automatically rates news sites in Facebook, though. It's not 100%, but pretty good.

This is something to recommend to your older relatives & less savvy friends. It will give them a start in the right direction in just a couple of hours. Because of that, it gets 4 stars.

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short on unnecessary history, this survey of our current digital world and the realm of misinformation is both interesting and helpful. Topics covered are:

The Misinformation Threat
The Evolution of Media and Misinformation
Misinformation and the Brain
Seeing Through Visual Misinformation
Countering Fakes and Stereotypes in Media
Journalistic Verification Skills
Assessing Science and Health News
Technology, Misinformation, and the Future

Helpful suggestions such as “label to disable” are key to the value of the reader’s experience.
There is little reason to watch this rather than listen to it. Susman-Peña is quite adequate as a narrator but a bit stiff as a presenter. The program is enhanced by the two other presenters and good choices are made in switching back and forth among them.

I am sure there are many other sources for the same information. Some may be better, but this is a fine place to start.

[Ezra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd recommend this audiobook to anyone interested in learning (or brushing up on) the basics of Digital Media Literacy in today's ever-changing, highly-technical world. It's easy to understand - I imagine even for those who may not be digital natives - and explains the threat misinformation poses for our everyday lives and for our countries on the world stage. It clearly identifies the seven types of problematic content internet users will most likely find misleading, and provides tools for seeing through visual misinformation. Readers will also be taught how to hone their journalistic verification skills, how to assess scientific and medical news for validity, and learn about the role of misinformation in encouraging harmful stereotypes and hate speech. It also briefly covers the newest developments in the technology scene that have the potential to spread misinformation (deep-fakes, Artificial Intelligence, and Augmented Reality).

[Homa Sharifmousavi · Rating 3 out of 5]

خوب و خلاصه و کارآمد. البته اگر با میس‌اینفورمیشن آشنایی نداشته باشین.

[Yaaresse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure which is more disheartening, that there is such an obvious need for a course in how to discern if what we read/hear/see is fact-based and can be trusted or that the course they came up with felt so basic and common sense yet is geared to adults. Are we really at the point in data consumption that we have to explain the difference between opinion and fact to adults? Didn't we all get that in grade school? Apparently not.

There are some good tips and fact-check sources in this short course (eight lectures), so it was worth the time. Still, with tech changing so quickly, as the main presenter pointed out, it is likely to date quickly. Given most people (as was pointed out) don't bother to read entire articles anymore and simply browse the headlines, I doubt many people will take the time to follow the steps outlined to cross check multiple sources for a story or verify sources or do lateral research...or just simply step back from the information fire hose sometimes.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fake news, misinformation, and the phrase "Don't believe everything you read online" are part of our everyday lives. Susman-Peña and her colleagues, detail the basics of recognizing and not spreading misinformation.

Why I started this book: As librarian I was interested in what this course would recommend or highlight to combat misinformation and media literacy.

Why I finished it: It shared several specific websites and methods for researching the media that you can encounter; which is great but will undoubtedly date this course rapidly. On the other hand, in a escalating war of propaganda and counter-propaganda... the more ammo you can hand out to your troops the better.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel empowered to attack misinformation after reading this book. I was introduced to so many good websites and tools. It really isn't a book - more like a course for fighting misinformation and teaching others how to not succumb to it.

So many great definitions in this book that explain misinformation vs disinformation (lying).

I am committed to not share dubious information. I will share my commitment with others and why it is important.

Break my information bubble - yes!

I need to find ways to keep these ideas/concepts I've learned fresh.

I need to do a digital detox once a week!

What can I do? 11 things I learned below:

Label to disable. Pause. Turn head away. What am I feeling? Label/say feeling.
Put language to my feelings.
INVID/ISEAK
Use an analytical mindset. Reactivate my critical thinking
Be aware of my own habits. Reflect on my information consumption.
How much time am I spending on SM/news - does this reflect my values?
Evaluate - does the content follow basic journalistic standards? Seek the truth and report it! Minimize harm! Act independently! Be accountable and transparent!
Check out the content - who, what, where, when, why?
Duck Duck Go!
Read across several sources and compare? When was item created? Verify publication/WayBack machine! Check photos! Reverse image search
Be aware of my own biases! CARE BEFORE I SHARE. Use my logical brain.

[Kate Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

I streamed the video version of this course on Kanopy. Its format was unusual, at least as compared to other Great Courses I'd watched, in two ways: it contained only 8 lectures, and featured three presenters instead of one.
The content was informative, but mostly geared to people who consume and share social media a lot. (I use only one platform, Facebook, and very sparingly, just to keep up with friends and family. For national and local news I make sure I'm consulting reputable sources, and rarely share.)
However, those who spend many hours a day on various social media--and know they're overdoing it--would probably do well to check out the recommendations in this course. Techniques are provided for average people to monitor and regain control over their media consumption, and to make sure they're not unwittingly spreading misinformation that could be harmful.

[Patrick Cosgrove · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly info for Boomers who have no idea the internet can lie. Still, it offers some great tools like fact-checking websites for you to go on before you open your mouth on a topic.

You could probably just Google 'Fact-checking websites" and get everything this has to offer.

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is actually an audio course on critical thinking as applied to evaluating internet content and especially social media content. Most of their advice is good. I was a little guarded about some of the suggestions like using NewsGuard which bad-mouths a web site I visit that is partly an educational web site, partly a religious web site and partly an opinion web site. I know that a lot of the content is opinion. I am fully capable of evaluating that opinion sensibly. Apparently, NewsGuard doesn't like those opinions so it's down-rating got a lot of the content of my favorite web site blackballed and I resent it.

My point is that the audio course is recommending that I use critical thinking and offers ways to help me do that, but then recommends this app that encourages me not to think at all but lets others think for me. Big mistake.

The other thing the professor recommend is ProPublica. While it's facts are generally correct, it is occasionally subtly biased.

For example, in the midst of writing this review I decided to look for an example of subtle bias. I read one article at ProPublica and it seemed fine. Then I read another that had a biased picture at the top. The title of the article is "Churches’ Role in Local Election Prompts Calls for Investigations". Fine, but the picture below the headline show a perfectly LEGAL use of free speech by the church where the polling took place. How do I know this? The campaign signs next to the church sign must be a certain distance from the polling place. Otherwise it is considered illegal. For example, I can put up a sign outside of a polling place (at a certain distance) that says, "Vote for Bob!" But I cannot take the sign inside the polling place. That would be against the law. So... evaluating this headline and picture: The headline suggests that there was a possibility that something illegal or unconstitutional was being perpetrated by local churches but the picture shows something perfectly legal as if it was something wrong.

FYI, I am no kind of Christian whatsoever, so I am not trying to protect a sacred cow. I'm just showing an example of the subtle bias that creeps in everywhere.

Secondly, the article is about the winners who want to punish the LOSERS. Apparently whatever influence the churches applied (legal or not) did NOT work. So why are they trying to fix something that needs no fixing? Good question. The article doesn't answer that nor point out that fallacy.

Thirdly, the article states that a particular church donated $800 to a person's campaign in violation of the Johnson Act, and stated correctly that that would be a violation of a nonprofit's tax exempt status. But they failed to mention that churches do not fall under the restrictions for nonprofits unless the churches formally apply for nonprofit status. Otherwise they are exempt from this law, and have tax exempt status anyway. The IRS might fight you on that, but if it is a REAL church and not "The Church of Beer" then the IRS will allow your tax deductible donation to that particular church. Thus individual churches can donate to political campaigns unless they have formally signed their rights away previously. This article did not cover this.

Some of the people also complained about giving politicians a chance to speak to religious congregations. If that is illegal then every President since Jimmy Carter ought to be arrested: "(Politicians Speaking at the Southern Baptist Annual Meeting: A Brief History".) I'm just kidding. Please don't arrest President Carter or any other President for speaking at religious gatherings.

But back to the review of the audio course. It's fine. It gives reasonable advice. It screws up here and there but nothing terrible. In general, if you just pause and think for a moment before you hit "Share" and maybe quickly fact check like I just did (It took me longer to write this evaluation up than it did to fact check it) then most misinformation can be stopped in its tracks.

I doubt I will listen to this audio course again. I am doing most of this stuff already.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fighting Misinformation: Digital Media Literacy by Tara Susman-Peña, Mehri Druckman, Nina Oduro is a 2020 Great Courses publication.

This Great Courses series of lectures is the first one I’ve encountered that was a wee bit underwhelming. It’s a little catch-22 though, and I ended up with mixed feelings about it. Most of the information presented is simple basics that most people should be aware of by now.

On the other hand, if that was the case, we wouldn’t still be talking about the spread of misinformation.

So, here’s my advice on this one-

If you need guidance on how to spot manipulated images or video, or dubious sources, or would like to know what tools are available on the internet to guide you through fact checking of all types, this is a course you might find helpful.

If you are internet savvy or grew up using social media, this might be old news to you. Still, some of the advice is worth hearing again if you tend to react on impulse when a social media post provokes your sensitivities.

Keeping your emotions in check and using common sense will go a long way in curbing the spread of misinformation.

Check everything out thoroughly even if a post is shared by a trusted friend. Cross referencing is very important, even if it means going beyond the first page of your browser’s search results.

Be especially careful if the post has made you angry or is upsetting to you. Take a step back before responding. Be even more diligent if the post mirrors your personal beliefs, as we are more apt to share impulsively with without checking the validity of the information. Remember, opinions aren’t facts.

Overall, if you are already fact checking and running images and videos through various internet tools to check on the accuracy and authenticity of the content and have already researched ways to spot fakes and manipulations, you can skip this course.

On the other hand, if you have no idea how to research content before sharing or would like to know the best reference resources on spotting misinformation, this course will point you in the right direction and will give some good suggestions about how to avoid rashly sharing misinformation.

The best advice given in the course-


Disconnect and take a break from your screens on occasion- for several days at a time, if possible. It’s amazing how much better you will feel, and how your perspective will change if you unplug for a while.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fighting Misinformation was a concise introductory course to digital literacy, recognizing and not passing on misinformation. It is stated early in the course that internet access has boomed in recent years and will continue to do so, and that - with more and more people having access to the internet and its plethora of misinformation for the first time - digital literacy and being able to recognize misinformation for what it is will become more and more important.

Some other reviews pointed out that the techniques, recommendations, and tools were significantly more basic than what they had hoped. This is a product of the course's aim: it's meant to be an intro. And, considering that I had never heard of some of them and didn't know where to find them (such as the various plugins, the websites used for reverse image/video searching, tools to detect distorted images/video, and others) I found the information in this lecture series and the specific links provided to useful tools/websites to be very useful. Even as a millennial, reliable internet access wasn't a thing until I was in junior high, which is also when I learned how to find and evaluate information on the internet. It's easy to say bash the admittedly intro level of this course while not acknowledging that techniques to create and spread misinformation have changed a lot, even for internet literate generations.

All in all, this is a course that I would recommend, though possibly not to a really internet savvy individual (and by that, I mean someone who already knows about things like AV alteration and how to check for it, not just someone who spends a lot of time surfing the net). It's a course that is probably going to be especially useful to older millennials, gen xers, and boomers, particularly in the coming years. I can also see parts of the course being useful for teachers, librarians, or those who work with youth and introduce them to the evaluating information.

[Toofan · Rating 2 out of 5]

audio quality: Good, Narration: varies from fair to good
The title of this book is misleading, it should have been: The basics of using digital media in research, or even better: Turning every thing you encounter on the web into a very basic research project.
This audio-book gives a short summary of what you find in any decent and up to date book on research methods, Like cross referencing, checking validity and date of publication of your sources, evaluating and verifying statistics, lateral reading, critical thinking, discerning facts from opinions, etc.
plus a brief and inadequate description of misinformation and what the creators of this audio program regard as classification of misinformation, although for some reason they have also included satire and parodoi in their classification.
When it comes to misinformation and manipulation, there are many books on advertising, psychology of manipulation and psychology of influence that cover this subject more thoroughly.
This audio-book also contains a very brief description of propaganda and hate speech, some tips on evaluating pictures and videos, and some suggestions which simply translates as Common Sense.

[Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting discussion from a group that developed an approach to fighting misinformation during the Russia-Ukraine War. There are few surprises, and they make clear that there is no simple silver bullet answer. They put a strong emphasis on pausing whenever you have an emotional reaction, determining and labeling why you react, in order to engage your rational brain. And they strongly encourage everyone to consider that, in a time of social media, everyone is the gatekeeper for information and they suggest not forwarding or liking anything that you have any doubts about. They also have a lot of discussion about how to explore the truth of anything you have doubts about, but that material is relatively traditional fact-checking. It's well-done, and covered quickly.

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent overview of some principles and techniques that can help you identify misinformation on the internet and social media, and avoid spreading it. Some of the specific tools are a little outdated in this AI deepfake age, but the principles still work. There are several memorable phrases that can help you remember to apply your system 2 critical thinking - "care before you share," meaning stop and think before sharing something potentially inflammatory and incorrect with your loved ones or community; "label to disable" is a technique for identifying emotionally charged content and disarming it so you can get at the facts.

[Dennis Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fighting Misinformation: Digital media Literacy by Tara Susman-Pena & co. should never have been a great course. While the first lecture was an interesting teaser of what could have been a good, if basic, survey, the course eventually turned into a series of interactive exercises that seemed more geared towards children than the type of audience the Teaching Company should have expected. It ultimately comes across as a waste of time. There are some good elements here and there, but the course needs a fundamental rewrite from the beginning to focus on misinformation and provide useful case studies that would be informative for people to learn about the topic.

[Galicius · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is good deal of information and tools on the endless information flow in the media that includes probably as much what is true and what is misinformation masquerading as cheap fakes, deep fakes, or other form of falsehood for various purposes. Finding your way in this onslaught may become as the authors describe it an “endless boxing match to counter it.” This is also greatly time consuming to apply the tools in analyzing the truthfulness of items of interest to you that daily media offers.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

A worthy set of lectures on the ins and outs of digital media. No earth shattering revelations, at least for me, but there are likely a goodly number of denizens of the internet who could benefit from contemplating what is contained herein.

[Grant · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very basic, narrow and shallow introduction into misinformation in digital media. This would be more beneficial as a pamphlet.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very basic but necessary. Short, only 8 lectures.

[Jeff J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good primer. The Russian disinformation campaign in Ukraine is used as a case study.

[JanaT · Rating 4 out of 5]

It can be used as a nice general introduction to the field. From pedagogical point of view, it offers several procedures that can help to clarity the process for the youngsters.

[Norjak · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Rick Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The basics of modern media literacy. Some of the concepts are so quickly skimmed over as to be unhelpful. But a good refresher if you’re already familiar, and a great lesson and if you’re not.

[Nicole Bergen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A basic, straightforward, and easy to listen to audiobook that is helpful in this current environment of data overload and misinformation. Very short, to the point, and full of practical advice.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This feels more applicable than ever before, and this course had some great tips on how to sort things through more critically.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of really good quick-checks to what to do when you come across "information" online, how to evaluate it, etc.

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good course for anyone to take, regardless if they are online or not.

[John Teske · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting 50,000 foot view of this topic.

Watched four lectures, brief, broad overview of the topics.

Meh. Ok.

[Pascale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an important topic, made even more interesting by touching on misinformation in Ukraine. This came out in early 2020, before Covid had its name, before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.