Who wrote this article?
Why did he or she write it?
And does this person really know about the subject?
These are important questions to ask as you read this article. After all, it’s Media Literacy Week. But you should ask yourself these questions for every type of text — and every kind of media!
Media includes ads, articles, books, games, movies, and TV shows. They use text, pictures, and sounds to send a message. Should you always believe the information? No way! That’s why you must know your sources!
Primary and Secondary Sources
News reporters get their information from different sources. There are two main types: primary and secondary sources.
Primary sources provide first-hand information. They include interviews, diaries, and speeches. An autobiography is a primary source because the author tells about their own life. Works of art are examples as well. Artifacts also count as primary sources!
Secondary sources provide second-hand information. These types of sources other sources. They include articles, books, encyclopedia entries, and reviews. A biography is a secondary source because the author is writing about someone else.
Which Sources Do Journalists Use?
Journalists use many sources for a news story. For example, a reporter may interview a person who was at an event. She may also read a book. Primary sources are often more
. But both are valuable.
Evaluate Your Source!
It’s not enough to know the source of your information. You must also
your sources. That will tell you if you can trust the info. After all, the author has a purpose. That may be to inform you. However, he or she may try to make you feel a certain way. Maybe the creator wants to make you believe something that isn’t true!
Here are some questions to ask about a source:
• Can I trust this source to tell me the truth?
• What was the purpose of the source?
• How does this make me feel?
Follow these tips, and you can be a media master!
Updated October 23, 2023, 5:01 P.M. (ET)
By Russell Kahn (Russ)
