While ‘Fake News’ isn’t a new phenomenon – the manipulation of information and the use of false stories that appear to be news has been around for centuries - there’s still no clear definition of what it is, or isn’t. The theme of Critical Literacy, a whole-school, cross-curricular approach that has the school library at the centre, has recently come into sharp focus. It is not simply about the ability to evaluate information for features such as relevance, accuracy, currency, credibility and potential bias. Instead, critical literacy addresses more fundamental questions about the nature of knowledge. It can be challenging for primary and secondary school pupils to analyse and understand what ‘Fake News’ is, and Critical Literacy is one approach that can help. This guideline looks at the historic and current contexts of ‘Fake News’, the definition and practice of Critical Literacy; and includes case studies by Critical Literacy practitioners and recommended resources for school librarians. 

Available to pre-order. 2019. ISBN 978-1-911222-21-7.

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