Why media literacy matters 5/7
The importance of cross-checking information
In a world overflowing with information — from newspaper headlines and political speeches to social media posts and advertising slogans — it’s not enough to simply read or hear something once and accept it as true. Cross-checking is the process of comparing information from multiple, reliable sources to verify its accuracy and gain a more complete understanding.
Even well-meaning people or reputable media outlets can get things wrong. Mistakes happen. Information can be misunderstood, taken out of context, or distorted — whether accidentally or on purpose. If we rely on just one source or one version of a story, we risk forming opinions based on incomplete, biased, or incorrect information.