Ahead of International Fact-Checking Day on April 2, MediaWise, Poynter’s digital media literacy project, created something decidedly … well not digital. Print’s not dead yet!
I’m the architect of MediaWise’s first-ever zine, which you can check out here. I’ve spent the last couple of weeks gathering tips and resources for you to have the necessary tools at your fingertips to combat misinformation. The online world can be a scary place, especially with generative AI developing at a lightning pace. I really believe this zine can help.
If you’ve never heard of zines, allow me to explain. Zines, pronounced “zeens,” are self-published, independently produced booklets that are usually made in small batches and distributed outside of traditional media channels. They can take many forms, like a digital flipbook or paper. They’re a great way for communities to express themselves or, if you’re like us, share the good word of media literacy for all!
I created this zine to help you make educated decisions while scrolling through wild claims online, from out-of-context political posts to seemingly harmless deepfake videos of massive tree frogs that don’t really exist. Just check out our TikTok to see how wild claims the claims can be.
Our goal at MediaWise is to empower you to make decisions on your own terms. You have the ability to examine all sides of a situation before potentially harming a loved one by spreading misinformation (yes, it can be that serious). You’re the only one who can change your point of view and use this zine to equip yourself with a sharper mind. Remember, no one is perfect and we all fall for misinformation sometimes, even professional fact-checkers — looking at you, Balenciaga pope.
Media literacy isn’t just about hunting down the latest misinformation trends, it’s also about understanding why people create and share misinformation in the first place and how it shapes our perception of the world around us.
If you enjoyed reading, please share this first edition of reality check with everyone you know.
Are you a teacher? Consider sharing reality check with your students and encouraging them to create their own one-sheet media literacy zine with what they’ve learned.
Now for arts and crafts time! One-sheet zines go like this:
You will need:
- One sheet of 8.5 by 11-inch paper
- Scissors
- Your imagination and media literacy chops
Instructions:
- Fold the paper horizontally, aka hamburger style. You’re going to want to make each crease firmly throughout each step. Unfold back to a full sheet.
- Fold both ends of the paper towards the middle. You should now have four columns.
- Unfold, then fold the paper vertically, aka hotdog style. Unfold again to show the full sheet.
- Make a hamburger fold one more time, then cut very carefully from the middle to the crease of the first column you meet. Leave folded.
- Place the ends of the paper on your surface and push the cutout to create a diamond shape. Grab from the sides and push towards the center to create your zine.
- Write and draw to your heart’s content.
- Congrats! You just made a super easy zine. Enjoy and share with your friends.
- Bonus: use the back side of your zine to make a surprise poster that’s revealed when it’s unfolded into one sheet.
This is a great visual reference for a one-page zine. We’d love to see what you come up with! Tag us on all socials @mediawise with your own zine for a chance to win one of our brand-new MediaWise Crocs Jibbitz!
Access an alt-text- and printer-friendly version of reality check:
