Fake News and Alternative Facts: Information Literacy in a Post-Truth Era

by Nicole A. Cooke

Talk of so-called fake news, what it is and what it isnt, is front and center across the media landscape, with new calls for the public to acquire appropriate research and evaluation skills and become more information savvy. But none of this is new for librarians and information professionals, particularly for those who teach information literacy. Cooke believes that the current situation represents a golden opportunity for librarians to impart these important skills to patrons, regardless of their age or experience. In this Special Report, she demonstrates how.

Genres: Nonfiction, Library Science, Adult, Education

56 pages, Paperback

Published May 14, 2018

About the author

Nicole A. Cooke is the Augusta Baker Endowed Chair and an Associate Professor at the School of Library and Information Science at the University of South Carolina. Her research and teaching interests include human information behavior (particularly in an online context), critical cultural information studies, and diversity and social justice in librarianship (with an emphasis on infusing them into LIS education and pedagogy). She was named a “Mover & Shaker” by Library Journal in 2007 and was the 2016 recipient of ALA's Equality Award and the 2017 Achievement in Library Diversity Research Award presented by ALA's Office for Diversity, Literacy & Outreach. She has edited and authored several books, including Information Services to Diverse Populations.

Reviews

[Harris]

A very brief overview of the topic, this monograph wasn’t quite as in- depth as I had hoped, but does pack a lot of resources into its few pages, making it an ideal professional read for busy, overworked librarians.

A report compiled by author Nicole Cooke for a webinar she presented for the ALA, I feel it opens up a lot of food for thought on deeper, more in depth conversations about the role of librarians as “truth workers in an age of factual recession,” as Cooke puts it. While I’m fascinated with how we, as library workers, can serve as “custodians of truth” in these trying times, Fake News and Alternate Facts only begins to scratch the surface.

Most helpfully, the bulk of the discussion focuses on techniques for narrowing the information literacy skills and critical thinking that librarians, public and academic, have long promoted to the unique challenges of digital and social medias. Cooke stresses the need to be multi-literate in a time when the complete breadth of information available and constantly streaming at you can make it all too easy to be struck with information overload and lack the time to process everything you encounter. In addition to helping average library users find and use appropriate information sources for more meaningful learning, “metaliteracy” encourages the collaboration integral to online environments as we all participate in the “construction and distribution of knowledge.”

The illusion of internet savvy was particularly enlightening, describing the common assumption that proficiency with technology makes for a critical consumer of information, though being comfortable with digital and online mediums is no defense or cure for filter bubbles, confirmation biases, or other places where faulty information gets through. Aside from these discussions and tips for helping to cultivate metaliteracy in patrons, though, there is little critique of how or why the internet fosters this information so well in spite of the ostensibly neutral stance of many of its platforms. I’d recommend reading it alongside Algorithms of Oppression for its deeper analysis into the social ramifications of online information in addition to practical day to day advice.

[Ryan Laferney]

This book (published by ALA) is a special report on the subject of Fake News and Alternative Facts based off a webinar that was presented by the author in 2017. Cooke combines media theory and learning theory to demonstrate how we can be susceptible to fake news (which isn't anything new, there are just new methods created to help create and disseminate it now) and even propaganda. It's a slim volume but does offer great resources.

[Jessica Yopp]

A short report on the topic of information literacy in the age of technology and social media. It doesn't go in-depth on the issue, instead offering a primer for information professionals to learn about contemporary "fake news" and basics on how to to help patrons successfully navigate media in the 21st century. The suggested resources for further reading, references and graphics are really appreciated.

[Don]

Mis-information, dis-information, fake news, alternative facts...objective and interesting read with practical suggestions on how to overcome it all and return to critical thinking. I couldn’t help but compare to recent local (and at times not so local) experiences with main stream and fringe media.

[Laura]

Concise and informative overview of the increased prevalence of misinformation and how information professionals can approach combating it with metaliteracy. Includes strategies to evaluate sources for authority and an outline to create a basic workshop on said topic.

[Jessica]

Contains a lot of resources for instruction so you don't have to reinvent the wheel.

[Robin]

This was very basic. However it did offer a lot of great resources.

[Ellen]

This helpful essay addresses key topics in fake news. There is a very helpful appendix with additional sources including additional reading and helpful graphics

[Lisa]

It is a quick read with a lot of useful information.

[Elan Francis]

Cooke has created an excellent foundation for readers who are interested in information literacy and how to combat the ever-prominent "fake news" in our media today. It's amazing how something from 2018 can already seem somewhat outdated since so much has happened since then, but I believe everyone should begin their knowledge on production and consumption trends with this short, easy-to-read analysis.

[Cathy Wood]

Quick overview of the grammar of media, iterative journalism and the spread of misinformation, and some tips on information evaluation, along with a suggested outline for a lesson plan and a number of additional resources

[Kārlis Bergmanis]

It is short and to the point.
The main idea being that Everyone is consumer of information. As simple as that, and you can't (nor want) to avoid it... So it's your choice to be literate or illiterate one.

[Ruth]

This is a good primer on fake news—i.e. mis/disinformation—that I fully intend to use a resource when working with my students in future.