This is Part 2 in a three-part lesson.
To start with the introduction, visit Part 1.
In determining which news makes sense and can be trusted, there are online resources that can help determine fact from opinion.
One site, Politifact, www.politifact.com, is a Pulitzer Prize winning website that rates the accuracy of claims made in the news and other sources. For example, Facebook posted a claim that by leaving items packaged in cardboard in the sunlight for 24 hours, the Coronavirus would be killed. The website listed this statement as a lie and listed the sources to prove it was false. Politifact says to dispose of packaging and wash your hands thoroughly.
Another helpful site is Snopes, www.snopes.com, an independent non-partisan nonprofit website run by professional researcher and writer David Mikkelson. This site is often the first place to set the facts straight on wild fake news claims. For example: There was a news item that if you gargled with warm water, you would be able to keep from contracting the coronavirus. Snopes rates this item as categorically false. There is no evidence to show that this is an effective method of being safe from contracting the virus. This site allows you to search for news items you might have seen or heard and gives you information about the validity of that item.
All in all, the amount and different types of information we receive can be stressful indeed. But by using some of the resources listed here, it is possible to view that information in a way that is less anxiety producing. By being able to determine fact from opinion, it is possible to look at the world objectively and make decisions that are positive and supportive.
It’s also okay to take a break from the news! Try taking 24 hours off from your social media accounts, turn off the TV when the news comes on and watch something more uplifting. Listen to music instead of listening to news casts. Take a walk, take a breath, spend time doing something active or creative. Talk with people you trust and maintain a realistic view – and the world will seem less daunting.
Now, go practice these skills in Part 3 of this series!