Episode 70 - Roy S. Whitehurst

Roy S. Whitehurst is a former CIA analyst and instructor. He spent 30+ years evaluating written information, photos, videos, and other media collected by the CIA and then taught media literacy skills to new CIA analysts. He is the author of the new book, “Teaching Media Literacy with Social Media News: Practical Techniques for Middle and High School Classrooms.” The book, which shows middle and high school educators in civics, English language arts, and social studies how to teach the skills to their students, can in fact teach all of us.

In this conversation, David interviews Roy Whitehurst, a former CIA analyst and author of 'Teaching Media Literacy with Social Media News.' They discuss the importance of media literacy in today's digital age, the role of disinformation and misinformation, and how skills learned in intelligence analysis can be applied to social media. Whitehurst emphasizes the need for critical thinking, understanding cognitive biases, and the importance of teaching young people how to navigate the complexities of information in a polarized world.

• Media literacy is essential for understanding today's information   
        landscape.
• CIA analysts focus on foreign media and require extensive training.
• Disinformation campaigns are prevalent and often intentional.
• Social media has changed the way we consume and share information.
• Critical thinking skills are crucial for analyzing media content.
• Young people are often more adept at accessing media than analyzing
        it.
• Cognitive biases can cloud our judgment and understanding of
        information.
• Emotional responses can influence how we perceive media.
• Evidence is key in discerning truth from misinformation.
• Teaching media literacy can empower individuals to engage responsibly.

Book:
Teaching Media Literacy With Social Media News - Practical Techniques for Middle and High School Classrooms.
Available at https://www.routledge.com/Teaching-Me...
or
https://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Media...

Roy's Website   www.medialiteracysleuth.com/