What is media literacy?

It's the ability to access, analyse, evaluate, create and act using  all forms of communication.

Look at information over time. You can't just look at an article and generalise about its meaning and impact.

You can't always identify the interest/ intention of the author of the information.  Look at his/ her record.

You need to look at an article from a variety of standpoints. For example from an emotional standpoint.

How you feel will affect how you view stories, pictures, video. Your response will also depend on your circumstances. Take a step back. Having to decide what your emotion is puts some distance between you and the information. That interval can help check an unthinking immediate response.

Information neighbourhoods

Advertising 

Includes one sided claims often without factual evidence. Content is paid for by client to increase sales or attention. Creators are unnamed but may publish corrections. 

Publicity 

Uses colourful public statements to offer a one sided view. Not unlike advertising. Client may pay to promote products or improve image. Publicity and PR staff usually unnamed unless they publicly correct an error. 

Entertainment

Focused on gaining/holding an audience. Producers can manipulate their point of view. Producers may be named and may publicly publish corrections.

Propaganda

Mixes facts with illogical, unproven assertions. Often uses exaggerations. Supports a government or other organisation. Creators unnamed, don't publicly correct errors.

Journalism

Good journalism includes verification of content. Journalists' ethics forbid working for interest groups. Work is signed, authors held accountable and publicly correct errors. 

Raw information

Unfiltered content that cannot be verified, may be truthful, may not be. Person posting it may do so for a reason, not usually held accountable.