Hello everyone!

I hope you find reflecting on your reading in your Mattermost group helpful, as it provides an opportunity to engage with your peers’ perspectives and deepen your understanding through collaborative discussions. I’ve reviewed your reflections and appreciate the depth of thought you’ve put into them.

This week, we will learn more about public personal learning networks and how we can balance our PLN.

The advent of the internet and the evolution of communication technologies have significantly changed how people access and share data. The Internet makes information more accessible and empowers individuals to conveniently obtain, create, and search online content. In the same vein, social media by virtue of its communicative nature plays a significant role in distributing information.

These days, social media become the first point for gaining knowledge and its function has completely evolved from just being a means for personal networking. In such an information-rich environment, the ability to evaluate online evidence and arguments is an essential characteristic of an informed and engaged citizen.

This week, we will learn more about digital media literacy. For this purpose, a chapter from the book “Navigating Social Journalism” by Martin Hirst is selected. In Chapter 4 which is entitled “The Political Economy of Fake News”, the author highlighted the individual’s responsibility to evaluate the massive amounts of media they encounter on a daily basis. Online media, streaming, podcasts, and social media are among the main source of information for individuals. Hirst also emphasized the importance of empowering students to be able to evaluate critically any media they encountered and produce their own message.

Consider the following questions as you complete the reading and discuss the topic in the Mattermost group.

  • How do notable individuals use social media?
  • What are the benefits of being in the public eye and having a PLN?
  • Building a community with online tools provided by the employer can be limiting, what are the perceived restrictions and benefits?
  • Delivering information in a connected society requires verifiable resources, how do build a PLN to rely on?
  • How do those who are veteran storytellers minimize the risk of sharing misinformation?

Readings for the Week Eight

Navigating Social Journalism

A Handbook for Media Literacy and Citizen Journalism by Martin Hirst

Chapter 4. The Political Economy of Fake News – pp.78

Podcasts for the Week Eight

For this session, you will listen to interviews conducted by Jesse Miller. For those who may not befamiliar with him, he is a social media educator and the founder of Mediated Reality.

In the Public Eye – Social Media and News Hour Journalism

An interview with Sophie Lui

As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Mattermost is the quickest way!