Critical Media Literacy: Identifying Bias in English News

In an era of information overload and algorithmic curation, distinguishing objective reporting from biased narrative is an essential skill. This text-based course teaches you how to critically evaluate English-language news stories, identify subtle spin, and verify factual claims independently. You will build a practical toolkit for modern media literacy, learning how to examine journalistic framing, loaded language, source credibility, and narrative slant. Through structured reading exercises and systematic analysis workflows, you will develop the habits needed to consume information critically and form well-grounded conclusions. What you'll learn: - Understand core concepts of journalistic bias, framing, and editorial perspectives - Identify loaded vocabulary, emotional appeals, and selective sourcing in written articles - Apply lateral reading and modern digital fact-checking workflows - Analyze headline construction, story placement, and narrative omissions - Evaluate publication credibility, ownership transparency, and conflicts of interest - Practice comparative reading across multiple English-language news outlets The course begins with foundational definitions and key media concepts before advancing to comprehensive article breakdowns and evaluation frameworks. Designed for general readers and English learners alike, no prior journalism background is required. Start reading news with clarity and critical awareness today.