IN DEPTH ‘‘
Enda Murphy, Senior Knowledge Systems Administrator, A&L Goodbody LLP
I’ll believe it when I fact check it: Ideas for an information literacy program
In today’s world in which information is weaponised, the modern librarian and information professional have a duty to respond to these ongoing challenges. Here Enda Murphy looks at how we can reinvent our skillsets to bring clarity and foster engaged and productive conversations.
“MISINFORMATION” has been around for a while, coined around ten years ago, as “fake news”, it has morphed and shaped into a vol- atile threat to democratic peace and people’s access to unbiased, substantiated information. Misinformation is a significant problem for society today, skewing access to the truth and allowing those with specific motives to leverage for gain and influence. The rapid growth of social media, which is for many their only source of access to news, enables this echo chamber of misinformation, with algorithms specifically being used to target specific people with subtle biases and providing content to reinforce bias and provoke strong often reactionary emotions and behaviours.
Librarians and informational professionals can help to tackle the threat of ‘misinformation’ by rising to the challenge and using our skills to educate users and empower consumers to develop critical thinking and information literacy skills.
Here are some key strategies and starting points that informational professionals should think about adopting for an information literacy program. They are applicable for a range of libraries whether it be medical, public, academic, or legal etc.
1. Inform users of the frequency of misinfor- mation, and its dangers
Misinformation is all around us, but especially through the internet and social media. Inform users that their feed is often not random but designed by
40 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL
an algorithm to often reinforce bias and provoke reaction. Much of what you may see or read on your screen could be false, so the first step is in recognis- ing that misinformation exists. Users also may have a dimissory reaction to misinformation as unimpor- tant. Educating users of the threat of misinformation is paramount, it skews reality, makes facts negotiable, and often puts specific minorities at risk of harm. Misinformation can cause serious damage, for example if people access warped medical advice from unsubstantiated posts on social media, they can cause significant harm to themselves.
2. Inform users that with the right skillset and technologies they can access clear, guided information
When users hear of the threat of misinformation, they often don’t know where to start. It’s a great opportunity for library professionals to devise info- graphics with lists of resources users can utilize to scrutinise information.
This can focus on the various fact checking web- sites that are significantly helping to combat misin- formation. These infographics could be as interac- tive as possible, with apps another possible example of how users could access a list of fact checking services and misinformation remedies.
3. Mobilise knowledge surrounding factcheck- ing, image search, and user added context Mobilisation of Knowledge is crucial – informa- tion literacy programs can’t be a one-off event in
Spring 2025
Misinformation is a significant problem for society today, skewing access to the truth and allowing those with specific motives to leverage for gain and influence.
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