Classroom Resource

Why Do Hyperpartisan News Sites Exist?

Subject Area

Digital Literacy and Computer Science

Grade(s)

6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Overview

This story is an installment of PBS NewsHour’s four-part series on “Junk News,” and explores who is behind creating inflammatory news sites, and why. Science correspondent Miles O’Brien profiles a leading purveyor of junk news, Cyrus Massoumi, who has hit the jackpot exploiting the trend toward hyperpartisan news. Why does Massoumi do it? He makes a lot of money and it’s easy.

After watching this video, classrooms may engage in a discussion about who has the responsibility to address the dangers of junk news. Is it the people who make the news, or the people who consume it? See support materials below for guiding questions and additional information about media literacy. This video can be played during a lesson on assessing the validity and identifying the purpose of digital content.

Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 6

DLCS18.6.R3

Assess the validity and identify the purpose of digital content.

Unpacked Content

UP:DLCS18.6.R3

Vocabulary

  • validity

Knowledge

Students know:
  • not all information shared is valid; some information is skewed to sway readers' opinions.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • research information to confirm whether the given information is true and unbiased.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • individuals and/or groups can manipulate information to meet an agenda.
  • it is important to verify information.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 7

DLCS18.7.R3

Assess the validity and identify the purpose of digital content.

Unpacked Content

UP:DLCS18.7.R3

Vocabulary

  • validity

Knowledge

Students know:
  • not all information shared is valid; some information is skewed to sway readers' opinions.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • research information to confirm whether the given information is true and unbiased.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • individuals and/or groups can manipulate information to meet an agenda.
  • it is important to verify information.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 8

DLCS18.8.R3

Assess the validity and identify the purpose of digital content.

Unpacked Content

UP:DLCS18.8.R3

Vocabulary

  • validity

Knowledge

Students know:
  • not all information shared is valid; some information is skewed to sway readers' opinions.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • research information to confirm whether the given information is true and unbiased.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • individuals and/or groups can manipulate information to meet an agenda.
  • it is important to verify information.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 09-12

DLCS18.HS.R3

Assess the validity and identify the purpose of digital content.

Unpacked Content

UP:DLCS18.HS.R3

Knowledge

Students know:
  • not all information found online is valid.
  • some information is shared online to promote an agenda.
  • all information has a purpose.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • assess the validity of digital content.
  • identify the purpose of digital content.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • not all information available digitally is accurate, valid, and/or unbiased.
  • some users/groups misrepresent information in an effort to skew perceptions.
Link to Resource
https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/hyperpartisan-news-sites/hyperpartis…

CR Resource Type

Audio/Video

Resource Provider

PBS
Accessibility
License

License Type

CUSTOM

Custom License Type (URL)

https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/help/terms-of-use/

Comments or Notes

PBS Learningmedia is a free resource for educators.  Educators can create an account to assign resources to students and to save resources to their dashboard.

Approved Date

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