Half of Teens Think Journalists Are Just Making Stuff Up?!

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.

Links referenced in this episode:

• jamesabrown.net