Fact Check Week 1 Semester 1 2020

You need to undertake the Fact Check Credential (link below). This cred should take approximately 90 minutes and is free for RMIT students. Whether or not you pass the credential is not the point of this assignment – you are required to submit a blog post reflecting on taking the test. How did you find it? Was there anything new or insightful you learned?

 

When taking the test I initially thought the questions were going to be difficult and for people such as journalists or people who were more invested in the area of fact checking. What I soon realised was if you look close enough and think about the questions, they really are quite a strong use of common sense. I think people do not usually have their attention drawn towards that not all new articles or institutions are always reliable. Once the attention is drawn to focus on the issue it becomes easily identifiable on whether it is fact or false.

At the beginning of the credential there is a video which describes fact checking. One statement that stood out to me was the effects false or misinformation can have on people. The video stated that “spreading false information [can] make people change their behaviour”. After thinking about this statement it made me think of older generations. They may only read one news source which they might publish dis/misinformation therefore, the older generations believe the news being published. This would to their personal opinions lean more towards what that particular institution has published. Through the publishing of mis/dis information the actions of people can change which leads believing, incorrect messages or ideologies.

After completing this credential it made me think about the importance of fact checking. If people are not out their keeping public figures accountable for their statements and not disclosing the correct facts in order to benefit their statement. People become submissive to the truth. The world of media and information would drastically change and not for the better rather people would become submissive of the facts rather than question the people who need to be checked and accounted for their words. Ensuring they are keeping to their word or statements rather than altering the truth, in order to suit their needs. Many people would be lead down the garden path and believe in information that is not the truth.