About this course: Never before has the need for News Literacy been more urgent. As news consumers are bombarded with a constant stream of fake news, propaganda, hoaxes, rumors, satire, and advertising — that often masquerade as credible journalism — it is becoming more and more difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. While the public’s faith in the news media erodes, purveyors of misinformation have helped give rise to troubling cultural trends and alarming political movements. This six-week course will help learners develop their critical thinking skills to enable them to better identify reliable information in news reports and to become better informed about the world in which we live. The course will discuss the key elements of journalism from the viewpoint of the news audience. The language of instruction is English, but Chinese and Spanish subtitles will be available. Each week will tackle a challenge unique to the digital era: Week 1: The power of information is now in the hands of consumers. Week 2: What makes journalism different from other types of information? Week 3: Where can we find trustworthy information? Week 4: How to tell what’s fair and what’s biased. Week 5: How to apply news literacy concepts in real life. Week 6: Meeting the challenges of digital citizenship.
Who is this class for: We are thrilled to make this course available for anybody who is interested in learning how to evaluate the quality of news and journalism in order to judge the reliability of information and make informed judgment. It is an online version of the News Literacy curriculum developed at Stony Brook University in New York and the University of Hong Kong. More than 15,000 university students in ten countries have taken it over the last ten years. We have been constantly updating our course material by incorporating the impact of the growing popularity of smart phones and social media services around the world. We hope you enjoy the course!
Taught by: Masato Kajimoto, Assistant Professor
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
Taught by: Howard Schneider, Dean
Stony Brook University School of Journalism
Taught by: Anne Kruger, Lecturer
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
Taught by: Steven Reiner, Associate Professor
Stony Brook University School of Journalism
Taught by: Jonathan Anzalone, Lecturer and Assistant Director of the Center for News Literacy
Stony Brook University School of Journalism
Taught by: Michael A. Spikes, Director, Digital Resources
Center for News Literacy, Stony Brook University School of Journalism
Taught by: Richard Hornik, Lecturer
Stony Brook University School of Journalism
| Level | Beginner |
| Commitment | 6 weeks of study, 2-3 hours/week |
| Language | English, Subtitles: Spanish, Polish, Chinese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified) |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.
Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.
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| Audit | Purchase Course | |
|---|---|---|
| Access to course materials | Available | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Not available | Available |
| Receive a final grade | Not available | Available |
| Earn a shareable Course Certificate | Not available | Available |
Really enjoyed this course. Lots of good information on how to identify fake news.
A super course, and available at just the right time. With journalists and journalism under assault, it's time for news consumers like me to have a better understanding of what we and our communities are up against. I truly appreciate that now I have a framework (and tools) to look at what is out there, which is helping me know what I think better and gives me strategies to talk constructively with friends and family when talking about the news. The past election, and now these first weeks of the new administration, have been real brain bangers with respect to what passes for truth in the news. As I began, a super course, and available at just the right time!
From its clear explanations to its relevant examples, I thoroughly enjoyed this course. I highly recommend it for anyone who's not sure what news is, what "fake news" is, what journalism is and how to get better at explaining all of these to others.
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SI
I was expecting a good class, but this exceeded my expectations. Well worth the money!