Feb. 11: Gen Z knows journalism?
This is a shortened version of Get Smart About News, a free weekly newsletter that explores trends and issues in misinformation, social media, artificial intelligence and journalism. Subscribe HERE.
Top story of the week
Gen Z journalist says her peers don’t know what her job is
Is a journalist someone who … journals? No, not quite, but that was what a 22-year-old race car driver guessed when chatting with Olivia Hicks, a sports reporter who covers Formula One racing. Hicks wrote in this column, “Gen Z’s misunderstanding of journalism is a nationwide — if not global — epidemic.” She claims her Generation Z peers don’t always know what a journalist is and are increasingly relying on influencers and celebrities to try to get news.
Hicks observed that “there are more people ‘reporting’ than ever before,” and it’s transforming sports journalism. As there’s more media access granted to podcasters and content creators, Hicks said sports publications are killing negative stories in fear of having press credentials revoked, and reporters are accepting gifts from sports teams — a violation of journalism ethics.
Engage: Discuss this issue with the sports lovers in your life. Why is it a problem if a sports journalist works for a team in a league it covers? Why should sports journalists refrain from clapping or showing rooting interest while on press row?
Parents: Are your kids struggling to define what a journalist is? Ask them to keep a news diary with you using these pages. Commit to getting news from a credible, standards-based news organization and use the second page to evaluate your news source.
Related:
RumorGuard post of the week
? NO: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) does not provide Politico with $8 million in grant money a year.
? YES: The viral screenshots show the amount of money various government agencies have paid Politico for subscriptions to its specialty publications.
? YES: USAID paid $44,000 over two years for two subscriptions to Politico’s E&E News, its energy and environment publication.
? YES: In February 2025, as the Trump administration started making cuts to USAID, other false claims spread.
★ NewsLit takeaway
False claims often go viral when they are accompanied by something that feels like evidence, such as a screenshot from a government website. The images showing that Politico has received more than $8 million from various government agencies over the last decade are authentic, for example, but they are being mischaracterized in sensational social media posts. Here are some tips for finding additional context:
Be patient: When a claim starts trending on social media, expect to see uninformed hot takes that attempt to politicize, exaggerate or mischaracterize the situation. Good reporting takes time and waiting for standards-based news outlets to check the facts is a good way to stay informed.
Know what you don’t know: If viral news spreads about an unfamiliar topic – perhaps the inner workings of USAID – it’s important to search for additional context. Look for news stories published prior to current events to get a balanced perspective.
Balance Sources: Make a regular habit of getting news from a variety of sources. Doing a web search and reading different perspectives on an issue is a good way to avoid being misled.
Kickers of the week
? A Salvadoran restaurant in New Jersey lost the bulk of its business after a viral TikTok video falsely claimed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had raided a second location and arrested customers. The restaurant owner said “people to be more aware of what’s actually happened before they believe TikTok and Instagram.”
? The Los Angeles Times reportedly edited an op-ed that was intended to be critical of Health Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. so that it sounded favorable toward him. The piece was published after LA Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong signaled support for Kennedy’s nomination, raising concerns about editorial independence at the legacy newspaper.
? In 1971, Cloves Campbell was the only Black state senator in the Arizona legislature, and he had a difficult time finding a news source that covered Black communities adequately — so he bought The Arizona Informant newspaper. Over 50 years later, the paper continues to be published by his family and serves as a voice for Black Arizonans.
One last thing...
This is a short version of our Get Smart About News email. To get more top stories, more RumorGuard posts and more Kickers, subscribe to our Tuesday email HERE.
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Thanks for reading!