#LibraryNews - Loras College Library at Loras College

This will be the first in an irregular series of blog posts about building news literacy skills. With each post we hope to add to your arsenal of skills related to recognizing and evaluating news and other information that may be presented as news.

The information landscape is vast and complex. Do you know how to identify quality news when you see it? Understanding how journalism is supposed to work is one of many news literacy skills.

For our purposes, here is one working definition of journalism:
Timely information of some public interest that is shared and subject to a process of verification, and for which an independent individual or organization is directly accountable.

The highlighted words describe the necessary elements that distinguish journalism from other kinds of information. Quality news reporting should exhibit all three.

What is verification? It is the process that confirms the accuracy or truth of something. Journalists collect evidence with the goal of providing the most accurate and fair version of events.

What is independence? It is freedom from the control or influence of interested parties, and a conscious effort to set aside any pre-existing biases.

What is accountability? It is taking responsibility for one's work and acknowledging and correcting errors. Journalists adhere their names to their work so that news consumers know whom to contact with comments or complaints.

According to our definition, these three elements (verification, independence, and accountability), define journalism and distinguish it from all other kinds of information. Could you use these elements to differentiate news reporting from other types of content we see every day, such as promotion, commentary, entertainment, satire, and raw data?

Related link: Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics.

Recent Posts

Summer Gardening

Gardening is a global activity practiced across cultures and climates. For some it is a hobby that brings relaxation and enjoyment, while for others it serves as an important source of food. Whether you tend just a few pots of herbs, a large backyard plot, or a section of a community garden, gardening brings numerous benefits. Perhaps most obviously, gardening supports physical health. Growing fruits and vegetables encourages healthier eating habits and provides access to fresh, nutrient-rich food. Homegrown produce can supplement one’s diet and, in some cases, make a meaningful difference toward food security. In addition to nutrition, gardening can serve as a form of exercise that improves flexibility, strength, and endurance.Gardening also can have a positive impact on mental health. Spending time outdoors and working with plants has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Many gardeners describe their time in the garden as meditative. Additionally, the sense of accomplishment that comes from nurturing plants from seed to harvest can build confidence. The connection to growth cycles and seasonal changes, likewise, can help people feel more grounded and connected to natural rhythms.Beyond personal benefits, gardening fosters community through shared gardens, plant swaps, and neighborhood beautification efforts. Loras College's Tom Blacklock Memorial Campus Garden exemplifies this community spirit. Started in 2014 by Professors Aditi Sinha and Tom Davis with Honors students, the garden began as a way to explore edible landscaping and educate the campus about local eating. It has expanded over the years, featuring carefully planned plantings that always include at least one unusual vegetable, plus prairie plants that attract beneficial insects. The garden's produce is freely available to the campus community, and all are welcome to volunteer. Those interested can sign up at Garden Volunteer Sign Up Summer 2025. To learn more about gardening visit the book display on gardening on the Library’s third floor....

It's Preservation Month!

If you’ve spent time in museums you’ve probably seen the terms preservation, restoration, and conservation used to describe how an artifact has been treated. All of these are processes to help ensure that a historical object continues to exist and which one is chosen depends on the condition of the object and its future use.In archives, preservation is the most common process and generally the least intensive. Our main goal is to minimize future damage or deterioration. Sometimes it’s as simple as putting the object in a box and in a safe place, but it can get much more involved. Archival materials are generally transferred into boxes and folders that are specially designed to mitigate issues such as acidic paper, light sensitive inks and dyes, and metal oxidation and to provide proper support. Our safe space is also carefully designed to maintain consistent temperatures and humidity. Restoration is a process that attempts to make the item look like new. Damaged areas are fixed, treatments are used to remove discoloration or stains, and new materials are added to replace missing bits. While this is most commonly done with art and furniture, it can also be done to books and documents. The video below shows the process of restoring a painting.Conservation can be seen as a mix of preservation and restoration. Like with preservation, the goal is maintain the item in its current condition and like restoration, the goal is to repair damage. Items that go through a conservation process are usually unusable in their current condition, but need to be used. Conservation treatments are less extensive then restoration and seek to conserve as much of the original material as possible. All processes are well documented and anything that is removed is usually retained.Want to learn more? Email Heidi to see examples of preservation and conservation in the archives and Special Collections. She's also happy to talk about on-campus preservation internship opportunities....

Mental Health Awareness Month 2025

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to focus on the importance of mental well-being. It is an opportunity to foster open conversations, raise awareness, and promote education around mental health. Mental health refers to a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how people think, feel, and behave, as well as how they handle stress, relate to others, and make decisions. Just like physical health, it can fluctuate over time based on life circumstances. Good mental health means being able to cope with daily challenges, maintain relationships, and function effectively in different aspects of life. For college students, particularly at the end of the school year, maintaining mental health can be challenging, but there are steps you can take. Ensure you get enough sleep, stay active, and eat healthy foods. Practice mindfulness techniques to maintain balance and focus. Keep in touch with friends and family for emotional support and to take breaks from academic work. Divide tasks into smaller steps and set achievable goals. Finally, don’t be afraid to seek assistance. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.Prioritizing mental wellness takes effort, but it is an essential aspect of living a balanced life. To learn more about mental health, please visit the book display on the third floor of the Library. ...

National Photography Month 2025

May is National Photography Month, a time to recognize the significant impact photography has had on our world since its invention. Evolving from a concept discussed by ancient philosophers into an essential tool for documentation and artistic expression, photography impacts how we preserve history, share experiences, and express ourselves.Although photography as we know it began much later, the camera obscura phenomenon, which involves the projection of an image through a small hole, was first discussed in ancient philosophical texts during the 4th century BCE and may have been used even earlier to inspire paleolithic cave paintings. It was not until 1826, however, that Joseph Nicéphore Niépce captured the first permanent image using a bitumen-coated pewter plate. His partnership with Louis Daguerre led to the daguerreotype in 1839, which made it possible to produce much sharper images with shorter exposure times. This marked the beginning of photography as a practical tool for capturing real-world pictures.As new techniques emerged, photography became more efficient and accessible. William Henry Fox Talbot introduced the calotype, which used paper negatives and allowed for multiple copies of a photo. Later, the wet collodion process and gelatin dry plates improved image quality and simplified the workflow. The invention of roll film and the rise of Kodak cameras in the late 19th century helped bring photography to the general public. What was once a complicated, scientific process became a common hobby and creative outlet. In recent years, digital cameras and smartphones have made it possible for almost anyone to take high-quality pictures anytime, anywhere.To learn more about the history of photography as well as see the artistic work of some of the world’s great photographers, please visit the book display on the main floor of the library. ...

News Literacy Skills: What are the values of good journalism?

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