Kony 2012
Kony 2012
The volume of information and speed by which we can access it in our digital world today is almost overwhelming but
not all the information is accurate and trustworthy.
It is therefore important that we evaluate sources as effectively as we can, in order to judge the trustworthiness of the information.
Asking questions relating to attributes that indicate credibility is a good way to evaluate any information source:
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CURRENCY: When was the information published? Is the information up to date?
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RELEVANCE: Does the information cover the subject effectively?
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AUTHORITY: Who is the author? What are their credentials and reputation? Are they experts
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ACCURACY: Where does the information come from and is it supported by evidence? Can the information be verified from other sources?
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PURPOSE: What is the purpose? Why was it written? Does the author exhibit a bias? Does any affiliations/sponsorship reflect in the content?
This libguide has been created in order to encourage students to question and analyse information and to research other sources in order to develop a wider understanding of the context before deciding whether to take action.
On Monday March 5 2012 a charitable organization called Invisible Children released KONY 2012 – a 28 minute video which introduced viewers to Joseph Kony and some of the atrocities he and his Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) have committed. It also suggested a course of action that should be taken to stop him. According to Visible Measures Kony 2012 has now been viewed over 180 million times but its immense success has brought criticism – of the methods used, the validity of some of the contents and of the organization who created it. It would therefore seem to be the perfect vehicle for this evaluation exercise.
KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.
