At a time when Artificial Intelligence generates convincing fake videos and social media platforms amplify falsehoods at lightning speed, distinguishing truth from fiction has never been more challenging — or more crucial.
On World News Day, September 28, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa spoke powerfully about the perils of misinformation. "Lies spread faster than facts,” Ressa said, adding, "without facts you can’t have truth. Without facts we have no shared reality and there is no democracy.”
This Media Literacy Week (October 21-25), we face an urgent reality. According to a 2023 Statistics Canada survey, nearly half (46 per cent) of Canadians report increasing difficulty in distinguishing between true and false information. At the same time, we're experiencing news fatigue at alarming rates, feeling lost and overwhelmed in a sea of content where credibility is often unclear.
At a critical time when the news we consume shapes our decisions about healthcare, education, politics and our understanding of Canada's role on the global stage, the impact of misinformation extends far beyond our screens. When false narratives spread, they can erode trust in institutions, ignite social divisions and even influence electoral outcomes. As AI technology advances, the challenge of identifying authentic content and information will only grow more complex.
That's why the Canadian Journalism Foundation is launching "Trust Wisely," a national campaign in collaboration with news publishers across the country. Our message is simple but powerful: Your trust is valuable — choose wisely where you place it.
As the head of an organization dedicated to journalistic excellence, I've witnessed firsthand the dedication of reporters and editors who work tirelessly to uncover and verify facts. However, these journalists can't combat misinformation alone. We, as news consumers, must develop the skills to identify trustworthy sources and reporting.
The good news? Enhancing your news literacy doesn't require a degree in journalism or media studies. At the Canadian Journalism Foundation, we recommend straightforward practices that anyone can incorporate into their news consumption routine:
1. Choose credible sources: Prioritize established news organizations with track records of accurate reporting and transparent correction policies.
2. Consider the context: Look beyond headlines. Understand when and why a story was published and how it fits into the broader news landscape.
3. Demand transparency: Credible journalism clearly identifies sources, explains methodologies and distinguishes between news and opinion content.
4. Check for bias: Be aware of your own biases and seek out diverse perspectives from reliable sources.
These practices form the foundation of news literacy, but they're just the beginning. Through a seven-year partnership with Google News Initiative, we have built a library of news literacy resources to help Canadians navigate the digital news environment more effectively.
Some might argue that in today's fast-paced world, taking time to verify news sources is impractical. But consider this: we wouldn't trust our physical health to unqualified practitioners — why should we treat our information diet any differently? The few extra moments spent verifying a source or cross-referencing a claim can make the difference between being informed and being misled.
We're not suggesting that every Canadian needs to become an investigative journalist. Rather, we're advocating for a more discerning approach to news consumption. By adopting these practices, we can collectively raise the bar for information quality and support the kind of journalism that democracy requires to thrive.
As we mark Media Literacy Week, I challenge all Canadians to reflect on their news consumption habits. Are you putting your trust in sources that earn it? Are you taking the time to verify before sharing? Remember, in a world where misinformation spreads faster than truth, your choices about what to read, believe and share matter more than ever.
By choosing wisely where we place our trust, we're not just becoming better-informed citizens — we're strengthening the foundations of our democratic society.
Let's commit to trusting wisely. Our shared future depends on it.
Natalie Turvey is President and Executive Director of The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF), which promotes, celebrates and facilitates excellence in journalism across the country.