Fake News and Alternative Facts: Information Literacy in a Post-Truth Era

by Nicole A. Cooke (Author)

Talk of so-called fake news, what it is and what it isn't, is front and center across the media landscape, with new calls for the public to acquire appropriate research and evaluation skills and become more information savvy. But none of this is new for librarians and information professionals, particularly for those who teach information literacy. Cooke, a Library Journal Mover & Shaker, believes that the current situation represents a golden opportunity for librarians to impart these important skills to patrons, regardless of their age or experience. In this Special Report, she demonstrates how. Readers will

learn more about the rise of fake news, particularly those information behaviors that have perpetuated its spread;
discover techniques to identify fake news, especially online; and
explore methods to help library patrons of all ages think critically about information, teaching them ways to separate fact from fiction.

Information literacy is a key skill for all news consumers, and this Special Report shows how librarians can make a difference by helping patrons identify misinformation

About the Author
Nicole A. Cooke is the MS/LIS program director of the iSchool at Illinois and an assistant professor at the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her research and teaching interests include human information behavior (particularly in an online context), critical cultural information studies, and diversity and social justice in librarianship (with an emphasis on infusing them into LIS education and pedagogy). She was named a Mover & Shaker by Library Journal in 2007 and was the 2016 recipient of ALA s Equality Award and the Achievement in Library Diversity Research Award presented by ALA's Office for Diversity, Literacy & Outreach. She has edited and authored several books, including Information Services to Diverse Populations