Media Literacy Factsheet Understanding and Navigating the News – For Readers of the Hawkesbury Gazette
1. What is Media Literacy? Media literacy is the ability to critically access, analyse, evaluate, and create media in a variety of forms. It empowers people to make informed choices, spot misinformation, and participate actively in civic life.
2. Why It Matters In an age of overwhelming information and online misinformation, being media literate helps you:
- Identify credible news sources
- Understand bias and perspective
- Ask informed questions
- Avoid being misled or manipulated
3. How to Spot Trustworthy News It is based on verified facts from reliable sources
It discloses conflicts of interest
It publishes corrections if mistakes are made
It includes multiple perspectives
It clearly distinguishes between opinion and news
4. Warning Signs of Misinformation Sensational headlines with no supporting evidence
Unverified claims spread on social media
Lack of citations or transparency
Emotional manipulation or fear-mongering
Anonymous or untraceable source
5. Ask Yourself:
- Who made this content, and why?
- What is the source of the information?
- Is this claim supported by evidence?
- What’s missing from the story?
- How does it make me feel – and why?
6. What We Commit To at the Hawkesbury Gazette
- Publishing fact-based, ethical journalism
- Respecting diverse perspectives
- Labeling opinion and advertising clearly
- Being transparent and open to feedback
- Supporting community discussion and accountability
7. How You Can Participate
- Send us tips or stories that matter to you
- Ask questions or request clarification
- Submit corrections if you see an error
- Join our public forums or write a letter to the editor
Resources
- ABC News Literacy resources: abc.net.au
- Alannah & Madeline Foundation eSmart Media Literacy Toolkit
- Media Literacy Lab: medialiteracylab.org.au
Let’s build a more informed Hawkesbury – together!