Half of teenagers believe that journalists make up quotes, and that’s a pretty wild stat to kick things off! We dive into the results of a News Literacy Project survey that reveals a staggering 19% of teens describe the news media as “inaccurate” or “deceptive.” I get it, though—these kids have grown up in a world where news and opinion often blur together like a bad smoothie. They see reporters splashing their opinions all over social media and, honestly, who can blame them for being skeptical? We’re chatting about how this generation views media with a unique lens that's way different from ours, and it’s a real eye-opener! So grab your headphones, and let’s dig into the wild world of news trust—or lack thereof!
Takeaways:
Teenagers today often think journalists fabricate quotes, showing a distrust in media.
A surprising 19% of teens describe news media as inaccurate or deceptive in surveys.
The rise of social media has blurred the lines between news and personal opinion for kids.
Today's youth view media with a clearer lens, noticing biases that previous generations missed.
It's concerning that younger generations find it hard to believe in objective journalism at all.
Understanding why teens are skeptical about news can help us improve media literacy efforts.
Half of teenagers believe that journalists make up quotes.
Speaker A:
The News Literacy Project surveyed more than 700 of them, and when they were asked to describe the news media in one word, 19% said inaccurate or deceptive.
Speaker A:
Now I get where they're coming from.
Speaker A:
These kids grew up when it was nearly impossible to pretend that news anchors were different than pundits.
Speaker A:
They see reporters opinions on social media constantly and they watch the Internet reward them for their slants.
Speaker A:
Objectivity barely existed for these kids.
Speaker A:
I think they're seeing our media clearer and more skewed than my generation did, and I'm not sure which one worries me more.
Speaker A:
Do you trust news?
Speaker A:
And why do you think these kids don't let me know on jamesabrown.
