ABSTRACT
The Covid-19 pandemic has not only taken a toll on human life and burdened the capacity of public health systems around the world, it has also exacerbated existing challenges associated with misinformation and disinformation. An infodemic, they write, can cause “confusion and risk-taking behaviours that can harm health. Current news ecosystems are in flux. Challenged by invasive digital platforms, largely unregulated tech companies, and the integration of personal and public information ecosystem, people’s engagement with news faces significant challenges. At the core of the disruptions to news environments are the emergence of platforms as central spaces for information exchange in digital culture. Platforms began as spaces for personal expression, peer connection, and public engagement. The severe decline in local news environments has vast implications for how news literacy practices can identify healthy news engagement skills and dispositions.
