(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The role of spin doctor is as old as politics itself, and certainly the age of the 24/7 television news cycle has elevated the job to an art form, with well-paid, well-coiffed spokespeople appearing on our screens to assure us that black is white and up is down.
But easy as it is to laugh at the sheer absurdity of a phrase like 'alternative facts, in actuality fake news is having a very real effect on the world. Russia and other foreign actors allegedly used disinformation to influence the 2016 US presidential election, and the ongoing blockade of Qatar was precipitated in part after the UAE allegedly hacked Qatar government news sites to spread false information.
While the phrase 'fake news became part of the public lexicon seemingly overnight, the concept has been in practice for millennia. Disinformation and its less malicious cousin, misinformation have been used throughout history to smear political opponents, religious groups, and business rivals. For example, the culmination of the tragedy of Marc Antony and Cleopatra, immortalised by Shakespeare, revolved around 'fake news of the Egyptian queen's suicide. The propaganda posters that now hang in ironically decorated coffee shops were the 'alternative facts of their time.
Today, of course, our access to information is virtually limitless and so, too, is our susceptibility to being misled. The consequences aren't always as dire as a diplomatic crisis, but still affect us; a student working on a research paper, for example, might be faced with two contradicting sources about the same event.
For libraries, then, it is not enough to merely provide access to information; we have been promoting literacy for centuries, and will continue to do so, but now more than ever the idea of 'information literacy is a necessary next step.
Information literacy is the set of skills that enable us to identify what information we need, where to find it, and crucially in today's environment how to determine its veracity. Its sub-disciplines, such as health literacy, financial literacy, and visual literacy, are further acknowledgements that the unending flow of information impacts every aspect of our lives.
Libraries have a particular duty to raise this key type of literacy because at our heart is a commitment to freedom of access to information, without censorship or restriction. Qatar National Library (QNL), which offers members nearly a million books, dozens of online databases, and numerous other informational resources, also offers community workshops to help our users ask important questions about the authenticity and reliability of the information they consume. This, in turn, enables them to develop the critical thinking and judgment skills to navigate a world that sometimes seems bent on deception.
To that end, on April 17, QNL will host a panel discussion, ‘Truth Matters: The Era of Fake News', with journalists, academics, diplomats, library leaders, and Middle East experts unpacking the ways in which 'fake news is being used in the current political climate to manipulate political agendas, and what can be done about it.
The 'fake news phenomenon shows no signs of going away, even in the face of widespread acceptance that we cannot believe everything we read or see. The best we can do and must do as providers of information is arm the public with the skill to identify when they are being misled or manipulated, and collectively prevent lies from becoming the truth.
*Dr Stuart Hamilton, Deputy Executive Director International Relations & Communications, QNL
Qatar National Library
Qatar National Library (QNL), a member of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, acts as a steward of Qatar's national heritage by collecting, preserving and making available the country's recorded history. In its role as a research library with a pre-eminent heritage collection, QNL fosters and promotes greater global insight into the history and culture of the Gulf region. As a public library, QNL provides equal access for all Qatari residents to an environment that supports creativity, independent decision-making and cultural development. Through all its functions, QNL provides leadership to the country's library and cultural heritage sector.
Website: www.qnl.qa
QNL's e-newsletter: http://qnl.qa/programs-and-services/subscribe-qnl-newsletter
QNL's Twitter: @QNLib
QNL's Instagram: QatarNationalLibrary
QNL's Snapchat: Qnlib
QNL's Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheQatarNationalLibrary
QNL's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/QNLibrary
Last updated: April 04 2018 10:43 PM
MENAFN0604201800670000ID1096701797
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.