Vocab & Definitions for Unit 1: Media Literacy Study Guide CWH 2

News

Information about current events that is reported by media outlets (e.g., newspapers, television, online platforms) to inform the public.

Fake News

Deliberately false or misleading information presented as news, often intended to deceive or manipulate public opinion.

Advertising

A form of communication used to promote products, services, or ideas, typically designed to persuade or influence its audience.

Entertainment

Content produced to amuse or engage an audience, such as movies, music, television shows, or performances, often for enjoyment.

Opinion

A personal belief or judgment that is not necessarily based on fact or knowledge; typically expressed in editorial sections of media.

Propaganda

Information, often biased or misleading, used to promote a political cause, viewpoint, or agenda, usually by manipulating public opinion.

Raw Information

Unprocessed or unverified data or facts, often presented without interpretation, context, or analysis.

Logical Fallacy

An error in reasoning that weakens an argument or invalidates the logic used.

Ad Hominem

A fallacy that involves attacking the person making an argument rather than addressing the argument itself.

Straw Man

A fallacy that misrepresents or oversimplifies someone's argument to make it easier to refute.

False Dilemma

A fallacy that presents only two options or outcomes when more exist, falsely limiting the possible choices.

False Equivalence

A fallacy that incorrectly asserts that two situations or issues are equal in relevance or value when they are not.

Slippery Slope

A fallacy that suggests taking a minor action will inevitably lead to a series of significant negative events without evidence for such progression.

Median

The middle value in a set of numbers when arranged in order, often used in statistics to represent the typical value.

Mean

The average of a set of numbers, calculated by adding all values and dividing by the number of values.

Margin Of Error

A statistical measure that indicates the range within which the true value lies, reflecting the uncertainty in a survey or poll's results.

Selection Bias

A distortion in statistical analysis that occurs when the sample selected for a study is not representative of the population being analyzed.

Partisan Bias

A bias in favor of a particular political party, ideology, or group, often reflected in media coverage or public opinion.

Demographic Bias

Bias that arises when certain demographic groups (e.g., race, gender, age) are overrepresented or underrepresented in data, decisions, or coverage.

Corporate Bias

Bias that reflects the interests or perspectives of large corporations or organizations, often prioritizing profit motives or corporate agendas.

Neutrality Bias

A bias where media or individuals aim to appear neutral, sometimes to the point of presenting all sides as equally valid, even when one side may be factually wrong.

“Big Story” Bias

A bias toward covering sensational, dramatic, or impactful stories at the expense of more nuanced or less 'newsworthy' events.

Algorithm

A step-by-step procedure or set of rules used by computers to solve problems or make decisions, often used in data processing and machine learning.

Machine Learning

A subset of artificial intelligence (AI) where computers use data to 'learn' patterns and improve performance on tasks without explicit programming.

Attention Economy

An economic model where human attention is treated as a valuable commodity, often exploited by media platforms and advertisers to capture and monetize attention.

Targeted Ads

Advertisements tailored to specific individuals or groups based on their personal data, interests, or behaviors, often using algorithms.

Filter Bubble

A situation where an individual is exposed primarily to information that confirms their existing beliefs, often due to algorithms that filter content.

Feedback Loop

A system where the output of a process is fed back into the system as input, often reinforcing or amplifying certain behaviors or trends.

Algorithmic Bias

Bias in the outcomes or decisions made by algorithms due to biased data or flawed design, often reflecting existing societal biases.

Rabbit Hole

An online situation where a user follows a series of content or recommendations, often leading to increasingly niche, extreme, or obsessive interests.

Artificial Intelligence

The simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to perform tasks requiring reasoning, learning, and decision-making.

Generative AI

A type of artificial intelligence that creates new content, such as text, images, music, or video, based on input or training data.

Conspiracy Theory

A belief that events or situations are secretly manipulated by powerful forces or groups, often without solid evidence or based on misinterpretation of facts.

Cognitive/Confirmation Bias

The tendency to favor information that confirms preexisting beliefs or biases, while dismissing or ignoring information that contradicts them.

Cognitive Dissonance

The mental discomfort experienced when holding two or more contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes simultaneously.

Echo Chamber

An environment where people are only exposed to opinions or information that reinforce their own views, often limiting exposure to diverse perspectives.

Epistemic Motivation

The desire to form accurate and well-informed beliefs, often driving people to seek reliable sources of information.

Existential Motivation

The need to make sense of life, often leading people to search for meaning, purpose, or explanations in their beliefs and actions.

Illusory Pattern Perception

The tendency to perceive patterns or connections in random or unrelated data, often leading to erroneous conclusions.

Institutional Cynicism

Distrust or skepticism toward institutions, such as government, media, or corporations, often due to perceived corruption, incompetence, or manipulation.

Motivated Reasoning

The process of reasoning in a biased way to justify or defend one's preexisting beliefs, often leading to ignoring contrary evidence.

Superstition

A belief in supernatural causality, where specific actions or rituals are thought to influence outcomes, often without scientific basis.

Deep Fake

Artificially generated or altered media (usually video or audio) created using AI, often to deceive by making it appear as though someone said or did something they didn't.

7 Standards of Quality Journalism

Accuracy: Reporting should be factual and precise. Independence: Free from outside influence or bias. Impartiality: Fair and balanced representation of all sides. Accountability: Owning and correcting mistakes.
Transparency: Clear about sources, processes, and motives. Humanity: Considering the impact on individuals and communities.
Truthfulness: Reporting with integrity and commitment to the truth.

1. Identify and Explain Different Types of Bias in News Media

- Look for confirmation bias, partisan bias, or sensationalism by comparing multiple sources and observing the inclusion of diverse viewpoints.

- Check if the coverage is influenced by advertising or corporate interests that may skew reporting.

2. Identify and Explain Different Types of Logical Fallacies in an Argument

- Watch for common fallacies like Straw Man, Ad Hominem, and False Dilemma by analyzing whether arguments address the issue directly and logically.

- Check if the argument unfairly limits options or draws exaggerated conclusions (Slippery Slope).

3. Explain if a Data Set Should Be Considered Accurate Based on Sample Size and Selection

- Ensure the sample size is large enough to be statistically significant and representative of the population.

- Verify the selection process to avoid bias; a random sample is more likely to provide accurate results.

4. Identify Different Types of Information Seen Online

- Factual reporting, opinion pieces, satire, and sponsored content can all appear similar online, so check sources and disclaimers.

- Misinformation or disinformation often lacks credible citations or verification.

5. Identify and Explain Different Types of Conspiratorial Thinking

- Conspiracies rely on hidden forces or coordinated efforts, often lacking clear evidence and dismissing counterarguments.

- Look for claims that rely on distrust of official sources or overly complex explanations for simple events.

6. Explain the Impact of Fake News on Society

- Fake news can spread misinformation, leading to misinformed public opinions and eroding trust in credible sources.

- It can polarize communities, fueling divisiveness and extremism.

7. Explain How Social Media Impacts News Consumption

- Social media amplifies sensational stories and promotes echo chambers by showing users what aligns with their preferences.

- Algorithms prioritize engagement, not accuracy, which may reduce exposure to balanced viewpoints.

8. Explain How Monetary Interests Impact News Consumption

- News organizations may favor content that attracts more viewers or advertisers, affecting editorial decisions.

- Some media outlets may suppress stories that harm corporate sponsors or push sensationalism to increase profits.

9. Explain How Algorithms Can Radicalize Viewers

- Algorithms often recommend more extreme content to keep users engaged, leading them toward radical viewpoints over time.

- Continuous exposure to polarized content can lead to narrow, rigid beliefs.

10. Explain How Algorithms Can Spread Misinformation

- Algorithms prioritize engagement over accuracy, so misleading or sensational content is often promoted.

- False information spreads quickly, particularly when it aligns with user biases or evokes strong emotions.