TED Talks and Other Great Content
Facts, Fact Checking, & Critical Thinking
Media Bias/Fact Check is an independent online media outlet. MBFC News is dedicated to educating the public on media bias and deceptive news practices.
The McClatchy Company is a publicly traded American publishing company based in Sacramento, California. It operates 29 daily newspapers in 14 states. McClatchy journalists have also won 9 Pulitzer prizes in their 159-year history. Well sourced and has low bias. A "least biased" source with "high factual reporting" by Media Bias/Fact Check. (10/30/2016)
Mass Media and Related Concerns
Social Media
Mueller Investigation Indictment 021618: The indictment charges 13 Russian nationals and three businesses – including an internet firm tied to the Kremlin – with conspiracy, identity theft, and failing to register as foreign agents. In the indictment, Mueller charged that some of the Russians, posing as Americans, "communicated with unwitting individuals" associated with Trump's 2016 campaign "to seek to coordinate political activities." (Brad Heath, USA TODAY; Published 4:07 p.m. ET; Feb. 16, 2018)
Russian Bots Are Spreading False Information After The Florida Shooting: It's known that Russian groups used Facebook and other social media platforms to spread false information during the 2016 election, but now Russian bots are doing the same after the Florida shooting. So, how are tech giants thinking about tackling these issues and making sure the same thing doesn't happen in this year's midterm election? (Posted February 20, 2018; 4:38 PM ET)
Russian Trolls Are Flooding Social Media With Messages Meant To Increase Tensions In U.S.: NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., about how Russian bots are still flooding social media, including fomenting American tension over the Florida school shootings, and what he thinks should be done about it. (Posted February 21, 20184:16 PM ET)
"How better tech could protect us from distraction" (Tristan Harris): How often does technology interrupt us from what we really mean to be doing? At work and at play, we spend a startling amount of time distracted by pings and pop-ups -- instead of helping us spend our time well, it often feels like our tech is stealing it away from us. Design thinker Tristan Harris offers thoughtful new ideas for technology that creates more meaningful interaction. He asks: "What does the future of technology look like when you're designing for the deepest human values?" (December 2014 at TEDxBrussels)
Can we fight terror without destroying democracy? Internet freedom activist Rebecca MacKinnon thinks that we'll lose the battle against extremism and demagoguery if we censor the internet and press. In this critical talk, she calls for a doubling-down on strong encryption and appeals to governments to better protect, not silence, the journalists and activists fighting against extremists. (June 2016 at TEDSummit)
Investigative Journalism and Research
Public Speaking
Adopting a positive perspective as a tool for connecting with a course. This TEDTalk, by Amy Cuddy a Social Psychologist, discusses that concept, and takes it further. Cuddy includes the importance of body language in shaping how a person approaches things. She then goes on to encourage her viewers to "fake it, until they become it". With that in mind, perhaps a struggling student (or anyone) can benefit from Cuddy's ideas. (June 2012 at TEDGlobal 2012)
Stress. It makes your heart pound, your breathing quicken and your forehead sweat. But while stress has been made into a public health enemy, new research suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case. Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive, and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress reduction: reaching out to others. (June 2013 at TEDGlobal 2013)
Miscellaneous Videos
Racial Issues, White Privelege, Etc.
Public Space/The Commons, Systems Thinking
Amanda Burden talks about creating great public spaces, the power of listening, systems thinking, attention to detail, connecting with people, beautifying public spaces, tapping into our humanity, the importance of civic action, among other things. It's inspiring.