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Media Literacy: How to Address Misinformation on Social Media
Why should we call out misinformation? Social media has become a powerful tool for the dissemination of disinformation, propaganda, and conspiracy theories related to current events. This causes division, confusion, and contention among friends, family members, and neighbors. It impedes our ability to make well-informed judgments as citizens. MWEG is working hard to educate people about how to identify quality news sources; however, a more challenging aspect of media literacy is learning how to address and respond to friends and family members who share misinformation. This is an emotionally fraught and taxing issue, and there are no easy answers. How should we do it? According to the MWEG Principles of…
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Media Literacy: Ethical Coverage of Police Violence â Reporting on George Floyd and Beyond
When it comes to reporting on the police killings of and violence toward black and brown people, news coverage can provide important background and context to the national conversation, sparking a wide range of actions and reactions. But that news must adhere to certain standards in order to contribute meaningfully and minimize bias. In the Society of Professional Journalistsâ Code of Ethics, reporters and editors are urged to âboldly tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experienceâ while at the same time âavoid stereotypingâ and âexamine the ways their values and experiences may shape their reporting.â Likewise, photojournalists should, âBe complete and provide context when photographing…
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Constitutional Literacy: Supreme Court Cases on Presidential Immunity
On Tuesday, May 12, 2020, the Supreme Court heard arguments for three related cases regarding the release of President Trumpâs financial records, including tax returns. In the short-term, these cases will decide whether third parties who hold Trumpâs financial records are required to release them to investigators in response to congressional and grand jury subpoenas. In the longer-term, these cases will define the contours of presidential immunity from congressional and criminal investigation. In reading about these cases and considering the rulings when they come out, it is important to remember that when deciding constitutional cases, the Supreme Court must consider not only the specific facts of the case presented â…
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Your Step-by-Step Guide to Hosting a Virtual Neighborhood Information Meeting (NIM)
After hosting a member-wide virtual NIM (Neighborhood Information Meeting) earlier this month (and an entire conference the month before), we’ve learned a thing or two about hosting virtual gatherings. In this guide, we’ll share our tips for hosting your own online NIM with family and friends, including selecting a topic, sending out the invites, and using our ready-made resources. 1. Select a topic. Every month this year, MWEG is releasing a new discussion topic that is relevant to our members and country at large. You can find these topics in the MWEG Portal (create a free account here!) under two different resources: Year of Ethical Government and Protecting Democracy, with a new Protect the Vote NIM coming next…
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What Is Vote-by-Mail?
The election of 1864 was held in the midst of civil war â a national crisis of a magnitude our country had never seen before and has not seen since. One German-born commentator was shocked when the nation went ahead with elections. But Abraham Lincoln knew that if they allowed the flames of the Civil War to engulf the elections of 1864, the very republic he fought to preserve would also risk ruin. He said, âWe cannot have free Government without elections, and if the rebellion could force us to forego or postpone a national election, it might fairly claim to have already conquered and ruined usâ (Nov. 10, 1864).…
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Op-Eds: A Crash Course
Op-eds can be some of the most thought-provoking â and controversial â sections of news publications, both in print and online. Last month, MWEGâs media literacy team set out to clarify what op-eds are (you might be surprised what the âopâ stands for), how they can be useful (and not so useful), and why and how you can find your voice and write your own. What are op-eds? Many newspapers have an opinion section, which operates completely separately from the rest of the paper and which publishes âseveral different types of content in the spirit of presenting a wide range of viewpoints and to encourage thoughtful debateâ Des Moines Register).…
