The flood of news and political commentary has become a mainstream topic in today’s digital world, and an outpour of political information is everywhere you look. It is far from over. We will continue to navigate this constant stream of information, and whilst we do so, it is important to know how to digest and dissect all of the media we consume. Whether it be about candidates, political campaigns or political parties, we must implement media literacy and understand why it is crucial to know when to recognize media bias in all of the political news we take in.

According to the National Association For Media Literacy Education (NAMLE), media literacy is “The ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act using all forms of communication.” In a world where social media is progressively becoming a main outlet for news, we are constantly consuming information daily from countless outlets and sources. Whether it be in the form of videos, articles, messages, memes or otherwise, navigating this continuous flow of information is crucial.

Before knowing when to use media literacy, it’s important to first recognize media bias. Media Bias often occurs when a journalist or organization allows their own personal opinions to affect the integrity of the news they report and where they report it. Bias can come in many forms like bias by story selection, omission, source selection, diction, tone, labeling, image selection and more. 

News outlets like Fox News and CNN produce news that pertains to their political ideals. A common tactic these news outlets use is selecting certain stories to share with their audiences that support their political biases. This is to help satisfy their agenda rather than sharing strictly neutral news. 

It’s good to always be aware of bias when it comes to media literacy because oftentimes, the daily news we consume is filled with it.  A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center from Feb. 18 to March 2, 2020, shows how “eight-in-ten Americans (79%) say news organizations tend to favor one side when presenting the news on political and social issues.” It is important to be mindful of this so we have the ability to fact-check this large number of biased news to better inform ourselves and others. 

Developing media literacy Skills

When going about media literacy, there are some key skills to keep in mind. This includes fact-checking your sources. Cross-referencing your media can help with this. 

Briefly, cross-referencing is when you compare a given piece of news with other reputable sources. If multiple reliable sources agree, it’s more likely to be accurate. Make sure you are not getting your news from only ONE outlet, and be sure to make your sources vary. This also means don’t just consume information that supports your opinions. 

Another important skill is understanding the intent behind a message. Question political motives. Ask yourself when consuming certain text, are there political, corporate or ideological motives behind it? Is the media outlet known to support a particular political party or agenda? This can help reveal media bias and improve your media literacy skills.

The 2024 presidential election was in full swing this year with candidates Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Both candidates had prestigious campaigns with great support from voters. There was a recent instance in September where misinformation was spread during the electoral debate between Trump and Harris. According to an article by The Washington Post, together, both candidates stated around 55 false claims. Donald Trump, when on the defensive, made four times more false or suspect claims than Harris. Even from valued political figures, it is important to look at the data and fact-check any political claim.

There are numerous ways to incorporate media literacy into political content but here are just a few you as a consumer can do. 

Diversify your political news sources. Be open to different points of view to avoid bias in your information. This leads to another strategy which is to always fact-check political statements. Even if you agree with something a politician said and the politician guarantees it to be true, you have to always research these claims, regardless of how valid they may seem. Being adamant and analytical when consuming political content is a great way to stay media literate. Also using fact-checking websites and other fact-checking media can help, an example being Glen Kesslers Fact Checker section on the Washington Post’s website. All of these can help make sure you’re verifying any information you come across.

Lastly, be sure to acknowledge your own political views and be conscious that your personal bias can affect how you interpret information. Ask yourself: Do you gravitate toward news that confirms your beliefs or challenges them? If you only consume news that you inherently agree with, can you really ensure that your opinions are factually accurate?

Implementing just a few of these habits can help enhance your media literacy when consuming news. This doesn’t only apply to politics, this can apply to any news you see. Be sure to have this information in the back of your mind, especially for social media apps like Instagram, and TikTok, which are heavily algorithm-based and service content that strictly pertains to your views. 

In a world where digital media and social platforms are gaining outreach at alarming rates, fostering media literacy is no longer optional—it’s essential; especially in political discourse. These skills will empower us to better understand the messages we consume and the choices we make.

References

Initiative, Y. A. L. (2015, May 20). Media Literacy: Five Key Questions. Retrieved from Young African Leaders Initiative website: https://yali.state.gov/media-literacy-five-key-questions/

Kessler, G. (2024, September 11). Fact-checking 55 suspect claims, mostly Trump’s, in debate with Harris. Retrieved from Washington Post website: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/09/11/fact-check-presidential-debate-harris-trump/

Metropolitan Community College. (2020). Metropolitan Community College – Media Bias. Retrieved from Mccneb.edu website: https://www.mccneb.edu/Community-Business/Library/Research-101/Media-Bias

National Association for Media Literacy Education. (2024). Media Literacy Defined. Retrieved from NAMLE website: https://namle.org/resources/media-literacy-defined/