There’s more to Hinsdale basketball suit than just the headlines

Media literacy is a topic that often gets swept under the rug in today’s society. With the rise of social media and the 24-hour news cycle, it’s easy to fall into the trap of only reading headlines and forming opinions based on snippets of information. This lack of critical thinking and understanding of context has led to a dire state of media literacy in our country.

One example that highlights this issue is the recent story about a high school basketball player and his mother’s lawsuit against the school district. The headline proclaimed that the player didn’t make the team and his mom was suing the school, leading many people to dismiss it as another entitled parent seeking special treatment. However, reading beyond the headline reveals a much more complex story.

The player, Brendan Savage, had been a star player in previous years and had even accused his varsity coach of bullying. The school district’s investigation found that while the coach hadn’t engaged in bullying, his behavior was inappropriate and inconsistent with professional standards. The coach was subsequently demoted, and a new coach took over. Allegedly, Brendan was cut from the team in retaliation for speaking out against the previous coach.

All of this context was absent from the headline, and it’s easy to see how people’s perception of the story would change once they read the full article. This is a common occurrence in today’s media landscape, where headlines are designed to grab attention and generate clicks. As readers, it’s essential to go beyond the headline and seek out additional information to form a well-rounded opinion.

Unfortunately, media literacy is not a skill that is widely taught anymore. Fewer and fewer people are being taught to read beyond the headlines and critically analyze the information they consume. This lack of media literacy has contributed to the current state of discourse about current events, both online and in real life. Instead of engaging in thoughtful discussions based on informed opinions, our conversations have devolved into a “raging dumpster fire.”

To combat this issue, it’s crucial for individuals to take responsibility for their media consumption. Rather than accepting headlines as absolute truths, it’s important to seek out additional information and context. Skimming articles for salient facts and practicing critical thinking skills can go a long way in improving media literacy.

Furthermore, it’s essential to remember that reporters often don’t write their own headlines. Headlines are typically crafted by editors, SEO specialists, and social media teams. While they play a crucial role in attracting readers, headlines can sometimes be misleading or lacking in context. Directing anger towards reporters for the headlines they didn’t write is unproductive and misplaced.

In conclusion, the state of media literacy in our country is dire. The prevalence of clickbait headlines and the lack of critical thinking skills have led to a society that is quick to form opinions based on incomplete information. It’s essential for individuals to read beyond the headlines, seek out additional information, and develop their media literacy skills. Only then can we have informed and thoughtful discussions about current events and begin to address the issues facing our society.