Media Literacy Flashcards
7 cards from real ELA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Media Literacy flashcards as text
In the context of media literacy, what is 'astroturfing'?
Answer: Creating the illusion of grassroots public support for a cause that is actually funded by special interests
Astroturfing masks the true sponsors of a message to make it appear as though it originates from ordinary citizens rather than corporations or political groups.
Which of the following best describes the difference between a news article and an op-ed?
Answer: News articles report facts; op-eds express the author's opinion
Op-eds are opinion pieces written to argue a position, while news articles aim to present verified facts without advocating for a viewpoint.
A student reads a scientific claim on social media that contradicts what their textbook says. The most media-literate response is to:
Answer: Check peer-reviewed sources and expert consensus before forming a conclusion
Peer-reviewed literature and established expert consensus provide the strongest evidence base for evaluating scientific claims.
What role does the concept of 'gatekeeping' play in traditional media?
Answer: Editors and producers deciding which stories are published or aired
Gatekeepers—editors, producers, and executives—control the flow of information by deciding what content reaches the public.
Which technique do propagandists use when they associate a product, idea, or person with a respected symbol like a flag or religious figure?
Answer: Transfer
The transfer technique borrows the credibility or emotional weight of a respected symbol to make an unrelated idea seem more legitimate or desirable.
When a news story presents a debate as having exactly two equal sides even when the evidence strongly favors one, this is called:
Answer: False balance / false equivalence
False balance treats a well-supported scientific or factual consensus as equivalent to a minority or fringe position, misleading audiences about the actual state of evidence.
A viral video shows a politician appearing to say something outrageous, but the clip is 8 seconds long. A media-literate viewer should:
Answer: Find the full unedited video to understand the original context
Short clips can be decontextualized to misrepresent what someone actually said; finding the full source is the first step in verification.